April 21, 2016

Education is the key to integration 

Henkel launches integration program for refugees 

Duesseldorf – Henkel is starting an extensive refugee’s integration program in its vocational training center. In collaboration with external partners and public authorities, the company is offering career guidance and job shadowing as well as internships, language courses and coachings for the refugees. The aim is to promote the integration of people with prospects of staying in Germany permanently.

For this year, Henkel has provided the Fritz Henkel Foundation with an additional budget of 500.000 euros for refugee projects, on top of the ongoing product donations. “It is our joint responsibility to integrate the people who fled to us in both our society and economy,” said Kathrin Menges, Executive Vice President Human Resources at Henkel. “With our program we want to create a perspective for these people, because education and access to the labor market are key success factors for integration. This is where we need to start.” 

Internships and vocational orientation 
The integration program currently has 75 participants, mainly teenagers and young adults. It focuses on practical career guidance. The participants gain first insights into the work environment through vocational internships. In addition, they receive targeted coachings, language courses and job application training. The participants are chosen by collaborating external partners and public authorities. “We support young people by helping them search for apprenticeships and during the following application process,” says Dr. Loert de Riese-Meyer, Head of Vocational Training at Henkel Germany. “Most of them are not familiar with our education system and are not aware of the options they have.”  

Language is a prerequisite for successful integration. Therefore, the Fritz Henkel Foundation supports, among others, the Goethe Institute with a donation for language courses for refugees. With this support more than 8,000 teaching units can be offered. Henkel continues to provide unbureaucratic emergency aid. The company equips refugee camps with Henkel cleaning products, detergents, shampoos, shower gels or toothpaste. Henkel also provides extra storage space and logistics. In addition, the company supports corporate volunteering of employees and retirees through product donations, financial support as well as paid time off work for up to eight days yearly.
  
Henkel operates worldwide with leading brands and technologies in three business units: 
Laundry & Home Care, Beauty Care and Adhesive Technologies. Founded in 1876, Henkel holds globally leading market positions, both in the consumer and in the industrial businesses, with well-known brands such as Persil, Schwarzkopf and Loctite. Henkel employs about 50,000 people and reported sales of 16.4 billion euros and adjusted operating profit of 2.6 billion euros in fiscal 2014. Henkel’s preferred shares are listed in the German stock index DAX.

Photo material is available at http://www.henkel.com/press

Contact	Hanna Philipps 	Jennifer Ott 
Phone	+49 211 797-3626	+49 211 797-2756
Email           hanna.philipps@henkel.com	jennifer.ott@henkel.com 

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA