HETZNER DONATES 250,000 EUROS FOR WELFARE PROJECTS

Gunzenhausen – 1. February 2012

Internationally active web hosting company Hetzner Online AG has been supporting sustainable welfare projects by nonprofit organization "Habitat for Humanity" since 2010. To date a total of 27 houses in South Africa and Mozambique have been built, and 20 houses in Cameroon renovated, with Hetzner Online funding. 

Hetzner Online spokesman Christian Fitz travelled to Mozambique and South Africa in January together with representatives of the welfare organization and actress Alexandra Neldel, to gain an overview of the funds deployed, speak with the families concerned and participate in the construction of a house. 

The one week project trip started in the war-torn and poverty-stricken country of Mozambique. Following discussions on the social conditions in the country with the German Ambassador Ulrich Kloeckner, four out of seven houses funded and built by Hetzner Online were visited. The houses are simple and functional with two rooms and a total size of 15 square meters. Sufficient drinking water is supplied from a nearby well built by the welfare organization. 

From Mozambique the journey led on to South Africa. In the urban slum area resulting from the then system of apartheid, "Mfuleni" on the outskirts of Cape Town houses around 200,000 people (according to unofficial estimates) in tin shacks in an environment marked by high employment and AIDS. Here it was possible to visit further houses built with Hetzner Online funding as well as participate in the building of a house under construction together with employees of Cape Town based partner company Hetzner Pty. Ltd. 

"It was a particularly emotional experience talking with a 13-year-old girl who, following the death of her parents from AIDS, has been caring for her four smaller siblings since her ninth birthday. Our donation has provided her and her siblings with a secure roof over their heads as well as long-term support with housekeeping and water purification. It is important to us to be able to support construction projects on a sustainable basis," said Christian Fitz. 

"With this donation Hetzner Online AG has shown exemplary social responsibility. We hope that this will also set a precedent for other businesses and enable many other needy families gain a secure roof over their heads," stated Manuela Kikillus, Director of Habitat for Humanity Germany. 

About Habitat for Humanity (http://www.habitat.org): 

Habitat for Humanity builds secure and adequate housing for needy families in approximately 90 countries with the help of donations, and organizes reconstruction in disaster areas. Up to now more than 500,000 houses have been built and renovated, thus helping more than 2.5 million people. Amongst the most prominent supporters of Habitat for Humanity are Barack Obama, Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, Bill Clinton, Brad Pitt, Bon Jovi, as well as Daniel Libeskind, Hans Eichel and Alexandra Neldel in Germany.