School

On the occasion of the International Day against Violence against Women, the organization Terre des Femmes refers to the study "Forced Marriage in Germany", which it has compiled in cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). It shows that in 2008, more than three thousand young women were threatened and affected by forced marriage. More than 70 percent of those affected were under 21 years of age. According to Terre des Femmes, every year around ten million girls around the world are given birth before they turn 18. Married for the rest of her life. Forced marriage often involves being trafficked abroad.

In this context, the Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Social Affairs, Kristina Schroder (CDU) refers to the "estimated number of unreachable intimidated people", which is so high that "no one can reliably estimate it". There is also an "alarming connection" between the experience of violence within one's own family and forced marriage, Schroder said. A nationwide help line, to be established by the end of 2012, aims to remedy this situation.

According to the Federal Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration, Maria Bohmer (CDU), in 44 percent of women threatened by forced marriage, the family comes from Turkey, followed by Serbia, Iraq and Afghanistan. "We will not leave the girls and young women who have grown up and gone to school in Germany alone," said Minister of State Bohmer. She also appeals to other countries: "At the same time, the countries of origin are called upon to do everything in their power to combat the serious human rights violation of forced marriage. She also points out that men and boys are also affected by forced marriage. However, the six percent of those covered by the study did not address the compulsion and do not see themselves as victims.

Cardinal Reinhard Marx © Frank Rumpenhorst

Has already been with the Pope: Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer © Osservatore Romano (KNA)

Under the pseudonym Shirin, a young Yazidi woman writes about her martyrdom at the hands of IS © Tobias Hase

The grand entrance is for a good cause. On Saturday the ZDF broadcasts the donation gala "A Heart for Children. Among others: Hollywood icon Selma Hayek, tennis legend Andre Agassi, actress Veronica Ferres. And Father Max Abalos from the Philippines. Between the TV event hosted by Thomas Gottschalk and the workplace of Father Max are not only several thousand kilometers, but also whole worlds away.

At the big Saturday night show, Abalos presents his work in the cemeteries of the Philippine metropolis of Cebu with its millions of inhabitants. Between gravestones and mausoleums, more than 700 families now eke out an existence there. For many of them, the Catholic chaplain is something of a ray of hope in a situation that is more than gloomy. With church services and soup kitchens, the 66-year-old tries to reach those people who no longer have a place to live, even in the slums of Cebu. Some of them had to vacate their huts for new construction projects, others were washed out of the agrarian hinterland into the conurbation in the heart of the island state – and perished in a maelstrom of violence, drugs and prostitution. Like Wendy, who for many years procured in the red light districts of Cebu. She became pregnant by a German sex tourist; since then she has lived with her young son as a living among the dead.
Daily struggle for survival The cemetery also became the last refuge for Amalia and her family. Why she came here is something the 45-year-old is reluctant to talk about. For this, she proudly tells of her children, who already contribute to her livelihood. Joshua collects the remains of deadlights during the day, which his sister Junalyn then makes into new candles. The equivalent of one euro for 60 copies of recycled goods. A daily struggle for survival that Junalyn wants to escape as soon as possible. "I'm trying hard at school and want to be a teacher later," the 13-year-old says earnestly. So that she would no longer have to sleep in the cemetery and could live in a real house. To help Junalyn and her peers, Father Max has embarked on an ambitious plan. Together with the Catholic aid organization missio, he wants to start a project in the coming year that will offer new perspectives to 400 children and their parents. At the heart of the initiative is a kindergarten and preschool – in Cebu's largest cemetery. Sounds absurd? Not for Father Max, who is convinced of his mission education. "We're just helping the children develop their own skills," he says, smiling. Around 74.000 euros have been budgeted by the project partners for their cemetery campaign. Money to be raised again on Saturday by German television viewers. Father Max gets support from Stephanie zu Guttenberg, wife of the German defense minister. A lot of support for him and his proteges, shortly before Christmas and from a completely different world.

Note: "A Heart for Children" fundraising gala, ZDF, Sat. 12.12., 20.15 – 22.45 o'clock.

Today, the founders of atlas aero, tobias salbaum and maximilian salbaum, compete in the elevator pitch of wirtschaftswoche. Your start-up develops a vertical take-off hybrid airplane that can also travel on roads. How investor felix haas judges?

Maximilian, tobias, you have a minute in the elevator with a possible donor. What is your elevator pitch?
We are developing a vertical take-off hybrid aircraft, practically a flying car, with a range of 1500 kilometers and a cruising speed of 300 km/h. A two-seater uses only five liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers. the gasoline-powered generator that drives electric rotors can later be replaced by a fuel cell so that the aircraft can also take off on hydrogen. And with wings folded, it can reach 30 km/h on the ground. In the first step we see it as a competition to small helicopters, in the second step it will be an autonomous air cab. Of all the air taxi concepts, we are the best at flying forward.