A chance to play
For more than 25 years, the Volkswagen Group Works Council has cooperated with Terre des Hommes . Together, we support projects for disadvantaged girls and boys at the Volkswagen Group's production sites in Argentina, Brazil, India, Mexico, South Africa, Kenya, Thailand and Germany.
About the collaboration
Around 200,000 Volkswagen employees in Germany have been working together in solidarity to promote children's rights since 1998. This makes it the oldest and largest cooperation of its kind in Germany. VfL Wolfsburg also contributes to this cooperation through donations.
Initially, employees in Germany donated an hour's wages annually; now they donate the cents from their paychecks each month. They also organize numerous other activities such as charity football matches, information booths, and exhibitions. Since its founding in 1998, more than 150,000 children and young people have benefited from these projects.
A chance to play aims to empower children and young people through play, sport and art, and to create a greater understanding in society of how incredibly important play is for the healthy development of children.
"At Volkswagen, solidarity is not an empty word. I thank everyone who supports our campaign and sincerely ask you not to let up."
The "A chance to play" concept
"A Chance to Play" program aims to provide socially disadvantaged children and young people with access to play, culture, and sport that is tailored to their individual circumstances and geared towards future opportunities. The goal is to foster their personal development and individual strengths. Play, sport, and creative activities offer age-appropriate entry points for children and young people and serve as gateways to further educational and support programs.
Read the program concept to find out which three pillars comprise "A chance to play":
“A chance to play” project examples
The "Academy of Creativity" in Walmer Township offers young people access to art, music, theatre, tutoring and social support. By fostering their creative abilities, their academic performance improves and they gain self-confidence.
Over 1,500 children and young people in the São Paulo street football network are learning to resolve conflicts peacefully and to organize themselves. The project aims to promote the street football method as a human rights practice, particularly to foster a culture of peace and combat gender-based violence.
The Green Tara project supports children from disadvantaged communities in Pune in continuing their education and strengthening their rights. Through recreational activities such as sports, music, and games, the children learn about their rights and gain self-confidence.
The KICKFAIR educational concept uses street football as a learning environment at four schools in East Germany to promote fairness, teamwork, conflict resolution and solidarity values.
VfL Wolfsburg promotes »A chance to play«
International commitment is also demonstrated by the Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg, which has supported the projects of A Chance to Play . The club's players also understand the importance of play and sport for children and young people and support the program's aims.
A Chance to Play Annual Report 2024
Whether in South African townships, rural Kenya, Brazilian favelas, or among the socially discriminated-against "scheduled castes" in India – the images and testimonials of the exuberant, creative, and motivated children and young people in the projects speak for themselves. Supported by further accompanying measures such as tutoring and the teaching of important social skills, they are empowered for life and empowered to shape their own futures.
The 2024 "A Chance to Play" annual report details how this happens, providing numerous examples. This is made possible by the unwavering solidarity of Volkswagen's global workforce.
Your contact persons
Jens Kunischewski
Speaker for institutional donors and corporate engagement
Claudia Berker
Speaker company partnerships