The ESF Germany chapter (SOG) participated in a competition called startsocial. This nationwide competition, whose main objective is the knowledge transfer from the industry into social project work, patronizes hundred social projects and ideas with three-month long consulting awards every year. The projects take hold at all levels of society such as improving children and adolescents’ situations, taking care of families, elderly people and people with medical conditions or disabilities and furthermore the engagement for people abroad and the integration of foreign fellow citizens. Usually, teams of two coaches that have diverse backgrounds work individually with the awardees to better understand their motives and goals in order to help them advance in their project work.

After 2008, when SOG has already been among the 100 fortunate candidates to be chosen, this is the second time for SOG to receive professional advisory services. The emphasis of the counseling will be on the library projects in Chechnya and in Kindu, but SOG will also be further advised in fundraising, bookkeeping and the association’s internal organization. Until December 2011, a group of ESF members from different local groups works with the coaches, who have experience in the publishing industry or are working for McKinsey and thus possess a broad knowledge in project work.

After the consultation phase which ends in December, SOG has the chance to be awarded one of the 25 most efficient projects at the festive closing event which will take place in the Federal Chancellery in Berlin. Simultaneously, a trophy of 5,000€ will be awarded to seven outstanding projects, among them one to be honored with the special price of the Federal Chancellor of Germany. Please wish SOG good luck.