©Körber Foundation Claudia Höhne

„I am delighted that Michael Hoppe was awarded the new Zugabe Prize of the Körber-Stiftung for founders aged 60plus in 2019. The jury of the Zugabe Prize was impressed by the personality of the award winner, who, with his foundation steps for children, is not only building new educational institutions and workshops in Namibia, but also engaging with local people with great sensitivity and respect. I consider it forward-looking how Michael Hoppe, by virtue of his experience and professional competence, is now also running development cooperation in an entrepreneurial and sustainable way in later life – he is a true role model for making use of the phase after midlife in a new way: for an encore!“

Dr Lothar Dittmer
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Körber-Stiftung