"Everyone gets to go"

School trips made possible by a relief fund – a&o educare raises donations and provides unbureaucratic support to low-income families

The number of school trips taken each year in Germany is not routinely tracked. According to estimates by "Kursbuch Klassenfahrt", the figure could range from 1.3 to 1.8 million students, or about 60,000 school classes. Ralf Olk, co-author of the book with Oliver Winter and chairman of a&o educare e.V., concludes: "We estimate that at least around 50,000 students are unable to participate in school trips each year."

School trips, field trips, project days, and graduation trips, in particular, are "highlights of school life" that "foster social skills beyond the classroom and create lasting memories."

a&o educare provides concrete, unbureaucratic support

The relief fund is aimed at families facing acute or long-term hardships and seeks to provide concrete assistance in cases where regular funding—such as that from the "Education and Participation Package (BuT)" or other programs—is insufficient, arrives too late, or is not utilized at all. Ralf Olk: "According to a recent Bertelsmann study, more than eight out of ten children do not receive any benefits for culture and participation at all."

The relief fund relies exclusively on donations

All of this is made possible solely through donations. Ralf Olk: “Both companies and individuals can make their donations directly via an online form.” The a&o educare association is recognized as a nonprofit organization; donation receipts are issued upon request.