FuturePaths – the Award

The Commerzbank Foundation honors innovative programs of non-profit organizations with the ZukunftsWege award, which support socially and/or health-disadvantaged youth and young adults in the transition from school to work. Open nationwide, the award targets non-profit organizations and educational institutions that develop tailored educational and integration offers in structurally weak regions or for participants with refugee and migration backgrounds. The focus is on sustainable promotion of professional qualifications to increase employment opportunities and enable entry into fully qualified vocational training. The award recognizes excellent approaches that strengthen social participation and thus contribute to equal opportunities in the long term.

Social cohesion and democracy thrive on the participation of all population groups. Especially young people with limited starting conditions often face economic and structural barriers. This is where ZukunftsWege comes in: through recognition and public attention, it demonstrates how school education can be linked with targeted vocational preparation. Projects are supported that establish sustainable networks between schools, companies, and social institutions, offer individual guidance, and reduce health barriers. Eligible to apply are non-profit organizations that design a target group-specific program for disadvantaged youth and young adults. The award aims to provide impetus, motivate imitators, and strengthen professional exchange among experts – with the shared goal of securing the skilled labor base and enabling social participation for all young people.