Society

High points and turning points at KfW, 1948–2018

Dossier

German Reunification

On the occasion of the German Reunification Day on 3 October: How we grew together and mastered and still master the great challenges together. Our video shows, for example, the epochal events of 1989/90 and KfW's role.

Diversity management

“For us, inclusion is much more than just a ratio”

Diverse workforces enhance all companies, making them more sustainable and successful. This is backed up by several studies. In this interview Robert Szwedo, Head of the Human Resources Department at KfW, explains how diversity is put into practice at KfW and why the bank signed the Diversity Charter.

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Social cohesion

“My job and my life”

In the Ukraine, if you are not a heterosexual, you risk being harassed. To help her country become more tolerant, Ruslana Panukhnyk is organising the Equality March. Our author attended the event in Kiev – and experienced both rage and courage first-hand.

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Further articles on social cohesion

Health

Nursing transfer

The start-up Linguedo is solving a distribution problem on the European labour market: Germany has far too few nurses, while in Italy and Spain not all trained nurses can find a job. One of them was Kristine Kasala, who now works as a nurse in Darmstadt, thanks to Linguedo.

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Education

Bastian Krautwald, founder/CEO of the company deineStudienfinanzierung in the telephone booth

Student loans

"We want to enable stress-free studying"

In a Berlin backyard, a new start-up is using an online platform to improve the financial prospects of students in Germany. A cooperation with KfW, the first of its kind, is making it much easier to get a student loan.

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Education

Culinary ambassadors

Two chefs from North Rhine-Westphalia travelled to Manila to teach German cuisine to Filipino apprentices. What they didn’t expect: they also learned a lot from the experience. We report from a country that is rich in young people, but poor in training opportunities.

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Housing

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Housing

Living and working in a historic landmark

The redeveloped former military barracks in the Polish city of Oława were awarded the international special prize for KfW's Construction Award 2019. We are presenting the project to you first in English, then in Polish. Dawne koszary wojskowe w Oławie mają bogatą przeszłość. W miejscu, gdzie kiedyś odbywały się przemarsze żołnierzy i treningi koni, powstały biura i pomieszczenia instytucji społecznych oraz niedrogie mieszkania. Projekt został wyróżniony międzynarodową nagrodą specjalną KfW Award Bauen 2019.

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Housing

Recycling in construction

The administrative location of Stadtwerke Neustadt in Holstein in Germany is setting standards for the municipal energy transition. The passive house also incorporates recycled components consistent with the principles of a circular economy and was awarded the "EnEff.Gebäude.2050" prize.

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Housing

Poolside living

In the city of Schwerin, 16 flats have been added to an indoor swimming pool facility from the days of the old East German regime. And people can still go for a dip.

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Housing

Bringing the farm back to life

Four dedicated and highly creative families in Bavaria’s Chiemgau region have revived a farm, fulfilling their dream of living together in the countryside. With this project, they won first prize for the KfW Construction Award 2019 in the category of New Construction.

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People

Climate action

Leading by example

Global warming requires immediate action. Thomas Koch, who works for German development finance institution DEG, has assumed responsibility and reduced his carbon footprint to a minimum. How did he get to that point? It all started with a visitor to his home.

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Column

A beautiful dance in Yugoslavia

War in Croatia, dancing in socialism, “Wind of Change” as your favourite song: author Saša Stanišić describes his life as a teenager.

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People

The Facilitator

Dr Dieter Rexroth is the artistic director of the international Young Euro Classic youth orchestra festival, which he co-founded 20 years ago. Get to know the renowned musicologist who calls our attention to the hidden warning in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in our video interview.

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Health

Technologies of the future

Blockchain against counterfeiting

The Chemnitz-based start-up authentic.network is starting a pilot project in Africa: a digital seal is to make malaria drugs identifiable, forgery-proof and traceable.

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Go to article about the biotech company CureVac

A Centogene employee takes a throat swab on a passenger

Mobile laboratories

“We have to live with it”

Coronavirus tests could become part of everyday life in future. Germany is also gaining good experience just now. The mobile laboratories of the Rostock-based biotech company Centogene enable preventive and extensive testing.

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A man sits in the CureVac laboratory wearing a protective mask

Coronavirus vaccine

“We have reason to be optimistic”

When will a vaccine free the world of coronavirus? Just now, that is the question to end all questions. And Tübingen-based biotech company CureVac is on the verge of having the answer. The expectations are high. The German Federal Government invested 300 million euros in the company at the right time. A site visit.

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Further articles on health

Demonstration of a red protective mask manufactured by Stitch by Stitch

Coronavirus pandemic

Stylish masks

Normally, the refugee women who work at the Frankfurt tailor workshop Stitch by Stitch produce high-quality fashion. When the orders started falling off due to the corona pandemic, Stitch by Stitch quickly replenished its product range with protective masks.

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Health

Aids in numbers

Around 37 million people worldwide are infected with HIV. There are still regions that are particularly hard hit by the Aids epidemic. And those in which new infections are on the rise again. Our interactive map shows the spread of HIV worldwide.

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Demographic change

Famous athletes in Niger campaign for family planning and HIV prevention

Demographic change

Strong men for condoms

A surprising marketing idea: famous athletes in Niger campaign for family planning and HIV prevention. As a result, the demand for contraceptives has risen sharply in Niger.

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