Group Management Report Products Safety and Health Environment Human Resources Social Commitment Consolidated Financial Statements 93
Social Commitment
The natural sciences, mathematics, informatics, and technol-
ogy are among the drivers of economic development and
social progress around the world. In this context, ALTANA sees
itself as having a responsibility to introduce young people
to these disciplines at an early stage and to kindle their enthusiasm
for them. In cooperation with experienced partners
from the education sector, the ALTANA Group supports con-
crete projects, often in the immediate proximity of ALTANA
sites. To maximize lasting impact, the company usually pro-
motes these projects over a period of several years.
Educational Coaching of Elementary
School Children
In 2017, ALTANA sponsored the so-called educational coach-
ing of schoolchildren at the Elementary School GGS Innenstadt
in Wesel for the fourth year in a row. Initiated by the
City of Wesel and implemented by the nonprofit Klausen-
hof Academy, the coaching helps elementary school children
from educationally deprived classes to sustainably improve
their development opportunities and school careers. In their
free time, volunteer mentors give the children individual
supervision. In January 2017, the partnership agreement was
extended for another three years.
As in the previous years, ALTANA financed a socio-edu-
cational expert at the Klausenhof Academy. The expert
assigns a “personal mentor” to each child, trains the men-
tors, and coordinates their work. Educational coaching
has become a fixed component of the elementary school’s
everyday activities. More and more children want to take
part in it. The support focuses on extracurricular activities
such as library visits, sports, and music. In 2017, 21 volun-
teer mentors each took one child under their wings.
Junior Researchers Visit ALTANA
Furthering children and adolescents’ scientific knowledge has
a tradition at ALTANA. For example, employees of BYK-
Chemie at our Wesel site have worked as school ambassadors
for many years.
As a network partner of the House of Junior Research-
ers foundation, ALTANA has for many years accompanied
two elementary schools and one daycare center in Wesel. The
aim of the initiative, which is sponsored by the German Fed-
eral Government, is to get children interested in science. The
concept includes special research days that take place in
cooperation with school ambassadors at the respective school
or daycare center. In 2017, air, water, and movement were
the main topics. The 250 junior researchers presented their
results at the traditional closing event held at the ALTANA
conference center. Parents and employees were also invited.
At its Grevenbroich site, ACTEGA Rhenania again of-
fered young people special courses on “coloristics of packaging
– preferred colors at supermarkets.” On four afternoons,
10th to 13th grade students had the opportunity to
make colored packaging coatings based on their own ideas.
The aim was to teach the participants different methods of
manufacturing and processing coatings and to give them
insight into the working world.
Youth Startups Competition
For several years now, ALTANA has participated in the multi-
stage competition “Jugend gründet” (Youth Startups),
sponsored by the German Federal Government. In 2017, the
specialty chemicals company offered a special prize in chem-
istry for the second time. Lilith Diringer, a high-school student
in Karlsbad, Baden-Württemberg, received the award for
her sustainable energy concept “Sweet Power.” She shows