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Commitment to education & social justice 2020

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Commitment to education & social justice

Commitment to education & social justice

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Commitment to education and social justice

Once again and especially in 2020, which was shaped by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, we met our social responsibilities. We maintained our focus on the fight against poverty and hunger along with the pursuit of social justice, while also supporting a broad range of local institutions and initiatives. In so doing, we aligned our efforts with the needs of the countries and surroundings in which we operate.

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Commitment to education and social justice 2

In 2020, 153 Messer locations demonstrated their social engagement through financial and material donations, social events, or to the benefit of social organizations. In all, Messer supported 237 activities for the common good. Due to the constraints imposed on in-person interactions, most of last year’s engagements could only be made in the absence of any direct participation by our employees.

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Activities for the common good were supported by Messer in 2020.

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Occasionally, we report on our commitment in social media or the local press, when we can use it to promote awareness for projects, organizations or institutions, or with own initiatives. We typically demonstrate our commitment without intending to generate media interest, and report here on selected examples.

Commitment to training, education or science

In May 2020, we organized a virtual visit of our production site in El Morell, Spain, for more than 60 chemical engineering students and teachers at Rovira i Virgili University (URV) in Tarragona. Videos presented the separate process steps and equipment of the plant and audiovisual materials were used to provide commentary. Due to the existing restrictions, we also presented the Messer Award to URV students in a virtual ceremony. The undergraduate students defended their projects online before a jury comprised of professors and Messer employees. Representatives of the university, the Chemical Business Association of Tarragona, and Messer participated in another virtual event during which the prize for the best project was awarded.

As part of an initiative launched by the “Institute for the Blinds,” our Messer team in Hungary participated in an interesting project: With the support of two physics teachers, interactive classes were provided for blind people. Experiments and demonstrations involving the properties of our “Gases for Life” were presented in a way that they could be felt or heard. The sense of taste was also stimulated – by ice cream previously frozen with liquid nitrogen. Some of our employees volunteered to assist in the project.

 

Messer in Serbia supported the “Battle for knowledge” program, with the goal of supporting developmentally disabled children. This took place at special education schools with, among other things, “Bee Bots,” which look something like bees. These small, easy to use “learning robots” were procured to make the transmittal of instructional matter more fun. They help to promote equality of opportunity for these children in national and European school competitions as well as in society in general.

 

Commitment to combat poverty and fight for social justice

Messer organized an international drive to collect private donations from among all employees in solidarity with the employees of Messer in Dung Quat, Vietnam, and their families who were affected by the typhoon “Molave.” In so doing, they supported the reconstruction of private homes, an infirmary and schools, and provided direct care for people in urgent need.

The Covid-19 pandemic, which affects the entire planet and each and every one of us, has triggered not only an unprecedented health crisis, but also an economic and social one as well. Many families depend on aid for survival. The number of requests received by the food bank (Banco de Alimentos) in Spain, for example, has risen by 40 percent this year. In view of this situation, Messer Ibérica renewed its collaboration with Tarragona’s regional food bank. In 2020, a donation of 3,000 euros was used to invest in the purchase of food for the neediest families.

In Tarragona province, the foundation La Muntanyeta supports people with cerebral palsy in a dedicated school, a day care center and a dormitory. Its goal is to defend the rights of these people and to improve their quality of life. The foundation is currently building a new center, La Muntanyeta Bonavista, which will give disabled persons a home and provide them with room for lifelong projects. This segment of the population suffers from tremendous need and long waiting lists. The center will provide 50 places in the day care center and dormitory rooms for 60 adults. Messer was one of the first companies to support this project. Thanks to that support, every room of the new facility will have a medical oxygen supply station.

The foundations

On April 6, 1978, Dr. Hans Messer and his family established the private charitable foundation now known as the Dr. Hans Messer Foundation. The independent foundation is a shareholder of the Messer Group and promotes education, science and research throughout Germany.

In the social and health spheres, Ria Messer established a second charitable foundation – today’s Ria Messer Foundation – in memory of her husband Dr. Hans Messer.

The activities of both charitable foundations are independent of those of the Messer Group.

Foundations

The purpose of any foundation should be to support projects and ideas that are given no or insufficient consideration within the framework of basic state provision. The Dr. Hans Messer Foundation also pursues this idea by supporting and recognizing scientists who gain prominence through special or outstanding achievements, by awarding scholarships and prizes, and by supporting scientific and educational establishments.

The Dr. Hans Messer Foundation’s activities encompass support and funding as well as operational aspects. It operates as a charitable foundation with legal capacity established under private law, making a varied and ongoing contribution to the promotion of science and research as well as school and vocational education. This work is becoming increasingly important in this day and age as the state is often unable to provide sufficient funding. In this way, thirst for education, innovation, scientific curiosity and pioneering spirit are rewarded.

The purpose of the Dr. Hans Messer Foundation is to be a driving force for education and science. According to its charter, the Dr. Hans Messer Foundation supports science and research, public and vocational education, and the provision of help to students. In all, more than 20 million euros have been spent for foundation purposes to date.

The board of the Dr. Hans Messer Foundation determines the focus of the foundation’s work with the aim of defining a specific direction. The focal areas can change, however, or apply for only a certain period of time. The foundation currently focuses on science and research grants primarily in STEM fields, i.e. science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The field of medicine also receives regular funding. The Dr. Hans Messer Foundation awards a number of different scholarships to students, undergraduates, doctoral candidates and professionals. In addition, special scholarship programs are also set up.

In 2020, the Dr. Hans Messer Foundation donated a pipetting robot to the Institute of Medical Virology at Frankfurt University Hospital for use in SARS-CoV-2 research. It facilitates the researchers’ work, for example, in the high-volume testing of several thousands of substances that may show potential antiviral activity. Moreover, the automated pipetting of thousands of samples can be completed much faster overall and with fewer errors.

To provide specifically targeted support to young scientists and their research, the Dr. Hans Messer Foundation continuously awards foundation prizes. The Foundation Prize 2019, for example, was given to the Technical University of Darmstadt for the promotion of outstanding achievements in the areas of natural science and engineering as well as economics, social sciences and the humanities. At 50,000 euros, it carries the highest endowment of any award for young scientists at the Technical University of Darmstadt. The prize is intended to fund material and personnel resources for research projects.

In 2020, Dr. Jurij Koruza of the Faculty of Material and Geosciences received the Foundation Award granted to the Technical University of Darmstadt for his research work: “Piezo-papers – porous functional materials for sustainable future technologies”.

A cross-disciplinary awards committee with representation from the foundation and the university board determines the prize recipients.

The aim of the Ria Messer Foundation is to support the most vulnerable members of our society. In accordance with the charter, the foundation supports charitable projects and public welfare projects.

Even today, there are many people who are more vulnerable than others. People who are sick or need care, people who do not receive enough support in our society, but desperately need help. This is precisely where the Ria Messer Foundation seeks to provide assistance. In keeping with the times, it fulfills the binding social contract implicit in the will of the founder: helping other people.

The Ria Messer Foundation treats all people with respect and tolerance. Its activities encompass support and funding as well as operational aspects. It has been a charitable dependent foundation established under private law since it was founded. It is held in trust by the Dr. Hans Messer Foundation.

The purpose of the foundation is to provide support to specific individuals within the meaning of § 53 AO (German tax code) and to promote social welfare. This purpose shall be achieved by helping individuals who are dependent on the help of others as a result of their physical, mental or psychological condition (§ 53 No. 1 AO of the German tax code), who find themselves in need through no fault of their own, for example as a result of natural disasters, who are in need according to § 53 No. 2 Clause 3 AO of the German tax code, by providing one-off or ongoing financial support in order to remedy their need in the long term or by financially aiding the work of the leading independent welfare organizations or other tax-privileged bodies operating in the charitable sector or other tax-privileged organizations providing care and treatment to individuals suffering from serious illnesses through no fault of their own.

UN Goals Engagement for education & social equity

  • UN Goal - No poverty
  • UN Goal - Zero hunger
  • UN Goal - Good health and well-being
  • UN Goal - Quality education
  • UN Goal - Gender equality
  • UN Goal - Clean water and sanitation
  • UN Goal - Affordable and clean energy
  • UN Goal - Decent work and economic growth
  • UN Goal - Industry, innovation and infrastructure
  • UN Goal - Reduced inequalities
  • UN Goal - Sustainable cities and communities
  • UN Goal - Responsible consumption and production
  • UN Goal - Climate action
  • UN Goal - Life below water
  • UN Goal - Life on land
  • UN Goal - Peace, justice and strong institutions
  • UN Goal - Partnerships for the goals

Chapter

Strategic integration of CR
Sustainable business
The Messer team
Safety & Health
Environmental & climate protection
Customer loyalty through innovation
Commitment to education & social justice