Stay! what when why - A step towards resolving the refugee crisis?!

“The core idea behind the campaign is: ‘Entrepreneurs from the Baden-Württemberg economic region use their donations to support local social entrepreneurs directly on the ground, enabling them to drive forward education, health and business success,’” explains Benjamin Wolf, founder and managing director of the Stay Foundation in Stuttgart. “This new approach – whereby established entrepreneurs from the region act as mentors to local social entrepreneurs in need of support – offers, above all, a strong sense of direct identification: with the project and the local people,” Wolf continues.

From what when why®’s perspective, it is of great importance to support this initiative. “Right from my first meeting with Benjamin Wolf, it became clear to me that the Stay approach has the power to bring about real, long-term change on the ground,” explains Carsten Knieriem, Managing Director of the event and live communication agency what when why®, regarding his willingness to get involved. “We also see our voluntary commitment as a contribution towards countering the harrowing refugee situation in a long-term and sustainable way,” Knieriem continues.

The Stay Foundation is a young community foundation based in Stuttgart with an extraordinary mission. Its goal: to bring about lasting change in development cooperation. Stay is committed to development that endures, as it establishes development projects that spread organically.

The idea is both simple and compelling, and is taking on outstanding significance in light of the current refugee crisis:
“The foundation supports and trusts in the potential of local people. Through their training, key local multipliers such as nurses, teachers and income-generators acquire knowledge and skills that are long-lasting. This triggers a chain reaction. The knowledge remains in the country, identification with the project is high, and the dissemination of knowledge and skills is rapidly multiplied,” said Wolf.