Overview
- Under the motto "School instead of Factory," children are visiting homes across Germany from January 2–6 to raise funds for anti–child-labour initiatives, with example projects highlighted in Bangladesh.
- Kanzleramtschef Thorsten Frei will host the traditional reception at the Chancellery on January 6 in place of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, which the Kindermissionswerk says is the first such absence since the 1980s.
- State-level events underscored the campaign’s message, with around 100 participants received at the Schleswig-Holstein Landtag in Kiel and nearly 100 welcomed at Bremen’s Rathaus by Mayor Andreas Bovenschulte.
- Grassroots participation remains robust despite winter weather, including about 180 participants in Twistringen and house-to-house visits or "Segen to go" alternatives in various parishes.
- Early local tallies include a new record of €2,461.57 in Harpstedt, while last year’s nationwide collection reached about €48 million for education, health, child protection and related projects.