100 REWE Group employees are volunteering at the Special Olympics, which are being held in Berlin from 17 to 25 June. We asked some of them why they signed up for corporate volunteering and when they would have been successful. You can see their answers in the film and in the following statements. From next Monday (19 June), we will be reporting daily from the Special Olympics in Berlin, where not only our corporate volunteers but also athletes like Julius Dietrich will be in action.
Melanie Haupt
Melanie Haupt works in Region West 1 as the deputy representative of severely disabled people at REWE Markt GmbH and PENNY Markt GmbH
"Accepting work with a handicap"
"I was interested in taking part in the biggest sporting event for people with disabilities and gaining an insight behind the scenes. So many nations come together there and I want to know how other countries deal with the issues of disability and inclusion. I hope to gain inspiration: What do other countries do differently or even better than us? In any case, I'm really looking forward to the discussions on site. I'm sure that they will take place despite possible language barriers.
Because of my own disability, I know that it is often a problem to be accepted in the workplace with a disability. But it has to become normal, commonplace - whether at head office, in a store or in logistics. We actually have many people with multiple disabilities in the company. Incidentally, these are mostly disabilities that you can't see. When we think of disabilities, we think of wheelchairs, but mental illnesses or cancer are usually "invisible". Disabilities are as diverse as the people who have them."
Melanie Koch
Diversity and integration have always been an issue for REWE businesswoman Melanie Koch. After completing her studies, the qualified teacher decided to take over her parents' REWE store in Adenau (Eifel), where she places a strong focus on employee management and training. Supporting young people on their path to adulthood and promoting their personal development is something that is close to Melanie Koch's heart.
"We have to live integration"
"When I heard about the opportunity to be a corporate volunteer at the Special Olympics, I thought, 'How cool is that? 'How cool is that!' Integration is such a great thing. We have to live it. My wife, who works for me as a store manager, is also travelling with me. We both realised straight away that we wanted to be there, we didn't hesitate for a second and are therefore delighted that we both got a place. We know what diversity means, we are both involved in di.to, REWE Group's LGBTIQ network; as a qualified social pedagogue, I have worked with people with physical and mental disabilities. We live diversity, we live integration. Nevertheless, I'm sure that taking part in the Special Olympics will broaden my horizons even further."
Scott McDonald
Scott McDonald, who was born in Scotland, has been loyal to REWE Region North, or more precisely to Lehrte Logistics, for 33 years. He has been involved there for a long time as a representative of the representative body for severely disabled employees (SBV). Since the beginning of the year, McDonald has been Chairman of the Representative Body for Severely Disabled Employees at REWE and PENNY Markt GmbH.
"Part of the company"
"There are many reasons why I applied to become a corporate volunteer. One of them is my childhood. In the town in Scotland where I grew up, we had two neighbouring children who were unfortunately severely autistic. I grew up with them and played with them as normal. And it wasn't until I was about eight or nine that I realised they were different. I still have fond memories of my time with them today. As children, you see a lot of things as normal, you see people with different eyes.
From my work, I know that most people don't even realise that they have a severe disability. That also applies to me: I'm also severely disabled, but it doesn't show. So it's my decision how I deal with it, who I tell about it.
And when I heard that we were supporting the Special Olympics, that our employer was involved, I was delighted and really wanted to be part of it. Because a big part of my job is to sensitise people more. It's about diversity, respect and equality. Because people with disabilities want to be part of society and be treated equally. And they should be treated as such, whether their level of disability is ten or 100 per cent. I am simply delighted."
Both German and English comments appear here.
To all participants: It's going to be a "great time". The athletes are so enthusiastic about it that it's just great fun. You get so much back. I've had this experience with integrative dragon boat teams for years.
We are thrilled by so much commitment and passion from our colleagues and are very much looking forward to our joint efforts for more inclusion in Berlin!