Ernst Klett Sprachen Verlag Donates Three Tons of Books for Literacy Endeavours

The 7th Literacy Convention took place at the Copthorne Hotel in Hanover, Germany on 4 November. During a celebration at the event Ernst Klett Sprachen Verlag donated 12,000 literacy advocacy books to the Bundesverband Alphabetisierung und Grundbildung e.V. (German Literacy and Basic Education Association).

"Every 15th German resident is functionally illiterate. In times of crisis, job security is of course absolutely contingent on possessing the ability to read and write. Hence the efforts of the Bundesverband Alphabetisierung are of critical importance and we are pleased to be able to support its work by providing basic educational teaching materials," emphasized Bertold Marohl, the head of the publishing house. "The association will now pass on and share the books with those who need them most urgently: Those who are learning these basic skills and those who are teaching them. After all, they are our target group. They are individuals who, with great courage and diligence work hard to learn how to read and write. We want to join the Bundesverband in helping these committed people quickly and directly."

As a new component of literacy advocacy, Ernst Klett Sprachen GmbH has decided to also promote programmes for non-native speakers of German. "A lack of reading and writing skills complicates the integration of many immigrants. As a result, they cannot even take advantage of important programmes society has to offer," explains Bertold Marohl. "Especially international students who are not native speakers of German have a tough time finding any kind of learning or teaching material that fits their needs. We are now addressing this deficiency with our new programmes." The company has simultaneously expanded its range of products that foster reading skills and aim at the prevention of illiteracy. The objective is to begin building sustained interest, enthusiasm and reading as well as writing skills at the earliest possible age.

Ernst Klett Sprachen GmbH is a Klett Group Company. The Klett Group has been committed to the promotion of literacy for 20 years. This is evident in annual donations and sponsoring contributions made to the continued education efforts of the Bundesverband Alphabetisierung. "In Klett we have a partner who has supported literacy efforts from the very beginning and was the first German publishing group to do so," confirms Peter Hubertus, the managing director of the Bundesverband Alphabetisierung und Grundbildung e.V. "Not only does the enterprise make regular donations that cover a significant portion of our ongoing costs, but it is also involved with its know-how and passion. In the name of the association, the seminar facilitators and our students, we would like to express our sincere gratitude for these efforts." Klett is a founding member of the Bundesverband Alphabetisierung e.V.

With its 60 companies at 42 locations in 18 countries, Stuttgart-based Klett Group is Germany’s largest education dedicated enterprise. The portfolio of the Klett Group encompasses everything from traditional text books to state of the art learning aids; from professional literature to the classics. Moreover, the Klett Group has established itself as the leading private provider of educational and continued education services. The companies of the Klett Group employ a workforce of about 2,900 and generated revenues of approx. EUR 439 million in 2008.