© Claudia Höhne

Kick-off for the ZUGABE Prize

In 2019, the Körber Foundation awards a prize to senior social entrepreneurs of the 60-plus generation – that is, to people who, after reaching the middle of their lives, have asked themselves what they can give back to society. The philosopher Cicero once said, „Nothing should old age guard against more than yielding to laziness and idleness.“ Sixty years after its founding, the Hamburg-based Körber Foundation is taking up this motto and in September inspired people with interesting talks on commitment and willingness to get involved after working life.

For the kick-off event, people gathered who take on social challenges as social founders and, with ingenuity, entrepreneurial experience and innovative thinking, offer solutions through their own projects. Dr Michael Hoppe was also invited – as a committed role model, project initiator and representative of the „scene“. As founder of the foundation steps for children, he was given the chance to take part in the panel discussion and draw attention to his work.

The programme included, alongside various talks, some interactive tasks that enabled the ZUGABE applicants to get to know one another. One of these, for example, was a self-description in three hashtags.

Social entrepreneurial spirit and innovation are invaluable both in young years and after the middle of life. The complex tasks had to be tackled together – whether with an initiative like the Fairtrade AG or as a ZUGABE after working life.