Following its premiere in 2019, the second “Marktplatz Gute Geschäfte” (Good Business Marketplace) in the Rheinisch-Bergisch district was able to build on the success of the first speed dating of companies and volunteers after a break due to Corona: 24 participants, including 14 nonprofit organizations and 10 companies from the Rheinisch-Bergisch district, got to know each other on May 15 at Haus Altenberg in Odenthal and concluded a total of 13 engagement agreements with a total engagement value of around 15,000 euros. The format, which has already been successfully practiced in many cities, including Cologne and Bonn, brings companies and nonprofit organizations together and initiates cooperation at eye level. What’s special about it is that no money is involved; the partners support each other with four exchange currencies: Know-how (pro bono), manpower and time, networks and contacts, and labor and material resources.
Review second Market Place Good Socialbusiness in the Rheinisch-Bergisch district
Impressions of the market place 2023
The second Rhine-Berg Marketplace was also supported by the Dr. Jürgen Rembold Foundation for the Promotion of Civic Involvement as the main sponsor, as well as the Kreissparkasse Köln with active (wo)man-power.
“I am completely convinced by the concept,” emphasized Stephan Santelmann, District Administrator of the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis and patron of the event, in his welcoming speech. He thanked the team of organizers Tanja Siebert from Amaidi and Christian Gollmer from the Forum for Sustainability for the Bergisch for their perseverance, the sponsors for making the event possible, and the tirelessly committed volunteers for their unwavering dedication even in difficult times.
Before the negotiating floor was opened with a gong strike by Santelmann, Dr. Jürgen Rembold awarded prizes to the three best cooperations of the first Marktplatz Gute Geschäfte Rhein-Berg in Rösrath. “The project is a prime example of civic engagement,” said the Rösrath benefactor, explaining the sponsorship and awarding of the prizes. “An important bridge is being built here between businesses and civil society.”
The award winners
The DRK Rösrath, Hits fürs Hospiz and Stiftung Gute Hand were each awarded 200 euros. Two of the engagement agreements were realized with Ms. Radermacher from Feelgood Trainer, and one project with social media manager Sonja Theile-Ochel, Rheinda communications agency. Rembold thanked the female entrepreneurs for their exemplary function and announced that the most fruitful and sustainable cooperations of the second marketplace will be awarded again.
Award winner Hits fürs Hospiz e.V. association, represented today by Mr. Andreas Stammler, board member at Hits fürs Hospiz e.V.
The association Hits fürs Hospiz e.V. asked the organizers of Marktplatz Gute Geschäfte for advice: For technical reasons, the website of the Bergisches Wünsche-Mobil was threatened with closure at the end of the year. What to do? It was obvious that the request could not wait until the next “Marktplatz”. We decided to put it to the test. After all, it is also exciting for us as the organizing team to see how effective our network already is. What then happened exceeded our wildest expectations. It took less than two hours before social media manager Sonja Theile-Ochel from Rheinda – Kommunikationsagentur agreed to take over the revision of the page.
Award winner: Stiftung Gute Hand, represented by Ms. Alexandra Reinhardt, Head of Public Relations and Fundraising.
In January and February 2020, the entrepreneur Ms. Anja Radermacher (Feelgood trainer – more ease in everyday life) was a guest in the intensive pedagogical residential group house 2 and the therapeutic intensive group house 1. Using the food pyramid, she worked out very clearly with the children and pedagogical staff which nutritional components are important for our health and well-being. Mrs. Radermacher was positively surprised by the knowledge of our children, which led to a lively discussion. After a short theory session, the children moved on to the practical part – wraps and various fruit skewers with cottage cheese were made and later eaten with relish.
Prize winner: German Red Cross, Rösrath chapter, represented by Ms. Ingeborg Schmidt, 1st Chairwoman of the Rösrath chapter of the German Red Cross.
In February 2020, the entrepreneur Ms. Anja Radermacher (Feelgood trainer – more ease in everyday life) redeemed the next deal from the Marketplace of Good Business. An exciting evening at the DRK in Rösrath. She spent a good hour and a half talking to the volunteers about nutrition. At the end there were wraps with lots of fresh ingredients as a tasting. There were lively conversations and also controversial discussions. Very grateful here: DRK Rösrath.
After the gong sounded, non-profit organizations and companies exchanged ideas intensively, gathered exciting new ideas and, in the end, not only made written cooperation agreements, but also established new contacts with each other over a delicious buffet. The abundant leftover food was donated by the organizers to the representatives of the Platte Association who were present and used it to surprise the needy and homeless people they care for.
Among the participating non-profits were the Förderverein Stadtbücherei Leichlingen, Fix-it-Climate, Herzkranke Kinder Köln, the Ernährungsrat Bergisches Land, Landschaft und Geschichte, Helfende Pfoten Verein für Assistenzhunde und ihre Menschen, Platte e.V., Stiftung Gute Hand, Hits fürs Hospiz, Theas Theater and FAIReinskultur. On the corporate side, the IT company Vidinli Software, the Rhineland Foundation for Education, Help in Deal and Phantasiali Stoffe were among the companies represented.
First-hand impressions were also gained by the Lupe Volunteer Center from Leverkusen, which is considering implementing a Good Business Marketplace for its region as well.
All the commitment agreements made during the “Marketplace” were recorded in writing on the evening of the event. Their implementation will be monitored by the organizer team. The best collaborations will be awarded prizes at the next marketplace, which is expected to take place in early summer 2024.
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