Andy Wolf Eyewear supports summer school for Ukrainian children

Eyewear manufacturer, Andy Wolf Eyewear, has supported a dedicated summer school for children from Ukraine, through the charity Caritas Styria.

Based in Styria, south east Austria, the social aid organisation runs a free holiday programme for children in need every August. This year, the City of Graz financed the programme and provided a premises.

The programme aims to prepare students for the year ahead with a mixture of learning and sports, supported by trained staff.

A donation from Andy Wolf Eyewear of €30,000 (approximately £26,000) supported the establishment of a dedicated summer school for 62 students from Ukraine.

CEO and founder of Andy Wolf Eyewear, Andreas Pirkheim, commented: “Andy Wolf Eyewear has been taking responsibility for people and nature since its foundation in 2006.”

Pirkheim explained that the company, along with “friends and cooperation partners” collected donations with which, “we wanted to help Ukrainian families to integrate and enable them to have an independent everyday life.”

Through the ‘GRAgustl’ summer programme, Caritas Styria aims to support integration through education. Students can review content from the previous school year in a community setting to catch up on anything missed or consolidate their learning, and practice their language skills, as well as enjoying their favourite sport activities.

Eva Hödl, head of the Caritas Learning Café and responsible for ‘GRAgustl’, said: “The project also wants to give the young participants a joyful and eventful time together during the summer holidays.”

Nearly 240 students took part in the ‘GRAgustl’ programme this year. Since the project began in 2008, almost 2000 children and young people have participated.

Pictured: Eva Hödl, manager of the Caritas Learning Café and responsible for the GraGustl, and Andy Pirkheim, CEO and founder of Andy Wolf Eyewear, with family