Maren Kogge (left) and Jule Rombey are volunteering with their projects "Colorful Crafts" and "Handwerk hilft" (Handicrafts Help). (Photo: © private)
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women in crafts - Theme specials
July 2024
Two strong women with strong messages: In this conversation, Maren Kogge and Jule Rombey share their experiences and talk about their wishes, future projects, and goals.
Maren Kogge is master church painter in Amerang. Jule Rombey is master carpenter in Selfkant. Both impressed at 'Miss and Mister Crafts' and won the competition – Jule in 2020, Maren in 2023. And both have a clear Mission in mind: Do good.
"Our social commitment is diverse," Maren joins the conversation. With the company she founded Initiative 'Colorful crafts' the master church painter is making Solidarity, tolerance, equal rights and Human rights strong. "My motivation to participate in 'Miss and Mister Crafts' also stemmed from this: I knew that if I won the title, it would be more to me than just wearing a sash – because I always wanted change something."
"The best thing about the competition is simply that it brings together people who advocate for the craft industry want to – you don’t have to win to benefit from it, to take something with you and to make a difference,” Jule agrees. “You get to know new people and can team up with them and create something great." The master carpenter is part of the 'Colorful Crafts' and also leads another project with which she supports children in need: 'Crafts help', also known as '#TeamHandwerkHilft'.
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Regarding 'Colorful Crafts', Maren explains: "We are all passionate about this project – everyone has their very personal storywhy he is part of the whole. Be it the friend, the sister or the person you know, the Discrimination But even that awarenessthat you have seen or experienced something like this before. We are a 'Safe Space'where everyone can say what they want and is welcome."
"We have 'Colorful Crafts' and 'Crafts Help' so linked togetherthat one project can draw on the other. This way we can reach even more people and, in the best case, as many supporters as possible win," adds Jule.
"We have leaned very far out of the window and a lot of time and private financial resources to make 'Colorful Crafts' possible," says Maren about her voluntary initiative"Last year we went straight to the Christopher Street Day in Cologne But we don’t want to be reduced to just the CSD, we want to Focus on society's blind spots – we want to look where no one else looks, or where it might even hurt to look."
So, a part of the group around the 'Bunte Handwerk' – including Maren and Jule – went to Rwanda traveled there as part of a project of the EURwanda Handcraft Foundation together to expand a children's and youth center with Rwandan vocational students"This year we are doing something in Germany and next year again abroad – the plan is, such actions alternate year after year to organize," explains the church painter. "And, of course, interested parties can also apply for such projects independently of 'Buntes Handwerk' on their own initiative."
In addition, the members of 'Buntes Handwerk' would like to further training in the area of diversity. "A colleague of ours is doing the Training to become a Diversity Manager. We intend to Workshops for business owners and employees to give." The feeling of Safety and well-being at work "We don't want to judge anyone, of course," Maren explains. "This idea of safety simply needs to be ingrained in people's minds. In the course of such workshops, we want to work with people get into conversationto hear their opinions and questions. We would also like to have more interfaces with the Chambers of Crafts."
With a smile, Maren reports from Photo.Award is Dortmund Chamber of Crafts, where 'Buntes Handwerk' was on site as a source of inspiration: "For the first time, a Chamber of Crafts has Diversity photo competition and aims to make precisely these people visible in the trades – be they people with disabilities, people with a refugee background, or people of all ethnicities and religions. A groundbreaking Representation of diversity and a great Pioneer in terms of diversity."
Become a sponsor, supporter or future memberThe 'Colorful Crafts' initiative becomes a non-profit organization"We are currently waiting for our association to be registered. Our founding team of eight people is delighted when people from the trades are interested in member to become to engage socially or at the CSD – whether in Munich, Cologne, Berlin or Hamburg – to be there," says Maren. In addition, Sponsors and Supporters Welcome to the project.
Who one Become part of the whole can contact @bunteshandwerk Report on Instagram!
"In the course of 'Miss and Mister Crafts' I was invited to a Career fair in Frankfurt Oder invited," Jule recalls the beginnings of 'Handwerk hilft'. "There I was introduced to the Fundraising campaign 'Students cycle for crafts' attentive. Then I realized that I some Set up your own business want."
Ultimately, a total of 105 students cycled in the event organized by Jule and collected donations. "But I also wanted to show them Bringing craftsmanship closer, so we set up some craft games at the end of the route. Afterward, some parents called us at the company and thanked us for the experience. Since then, we have organized World Children's Day on 20 September, this Action Day and sit down volunteer for the promotion of young talent and collect Donations for regional projects."
Last year, the team around 'Handwerk hilft' decided to Children's Opportunities Board in Oberbruch "The school we worked with is a UNESCO school and already supports the food bank. We found the connection to the Children's Opportunities Board to be a perfect fit, because the action day is organized in such a way that the students – with every nail they hammer – earn donations," explains Jule. In the Children's Opportunities Board facilities, cares for and supports children affected by povertyto give them a perspective.
"During the last action day, we donated a self-built wooden house and one Donation income in the amount of 5.600 euros," says the carpenter. The money collected is to be used for a Renovation respectively Expansion of the board be used. "But we want do more. Recently we successfully completed a crowdfunding campaign completed and this year numerous events in support of the Children's Opportunities Table take place, where both Private individuals as well as most Companies support." And who, if not 'Handwerk hilft' and 'Buntes Handwerk', could best help with this project in the truest sense of the word? "During the renovation, we will very active as a craft support on site be," emphasizes Jule.
Become part of '#TeamHandwerkHilft'Everyone – whether as On Site Team or Company – is cordially invited, as is the To support the team around 'Handwerk hilft'And of course everyone is welcome to join us next Action day on 20 September 2024 "We want to give the children and young people a Step into a better future enable, are actively involved and are constantly collecting donations," says Jule.
Prospective can contact us directly @handwerk.hilft Report on Instagram!DHB now also digital!Simply click here and register for the digital German Crafts Journal (DHB)!
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