ZukunftsHandwerker introduces children and young people in the rural Altmark region to traditional and rare crafts in a fun way. With a dedicated team of volunteers, we go where the children and young people are - to village festivals, kindergartens, Christmas markets and other events. The project started at the Schönberg manor and is now reaching more and more children and young people throughout the Altmark. The aim is to establish regular youth work events in the future in order to create real prospects for young people and help them discover and develop their craft skills. As a flagship project for volunteer work and sustainable community impact in the Altmark and Saxony-Anhalt, ZukunftsHandwerker shows how small, highly motivated organizations can have a big impact locally - and at the same time serve as an example of best practice for other regions. The first talks about bringing ZukunftsHandwerker to Saxony and Thuringia took place on the evening of the award ceremony. "What we are developing and testing in the Altmark today can be implemented in Hamburg or elsewhere tomorrow," says Kerstin Rice. "The ARCH thinks globally and acts locally - ZukunftsHandwerker is a concrete project that puts this approach into practice." Kerstin Rice, Managing Director of The ARCH gUG, said: "It was a very touching moment to be among the 12 regional award winners. Many of the other award-winning projects are small initiatives that have been working with great passion for children and young people for many years. This recognition is a great honor and at the same time motivation to pass on our knowledge and experience." The Town & Country Foundation congratulated: "The fact that your project is one of these particularly outstanding initiatives shows how valuable your commitment to children and young people is. My warmest congratulations to you!" Christian Treumann, Chairman of the Board of the Town & Country Foundation, summed up ZukunftsHandwerker aptly: "Giving sensory experiences and perspectives. Great!" The award ceremony took place on May 9, 2026 as part of a gala event in Erfurt. The ARCH was represented by Kerstin Rice and volunteer Heike. About The ARCH gUG The ARCH gUG (founded in 2024) is a global charity that safeguards the legacy of heritage-rooted crafts in their local cultures for the future. Founded by four international partners, rare craft experts, The ARCH brings together craft enthusiasts in more than 40 countries worldwide to share and learn from each other. Contact for questions and interviews Kerstin Rice, co-founder of The ARCH gUG and program manager for ZukunftsHandwerker, is available for interviews. She is happy to share insights into how volunteer work and community impact actually work in the rural region and how other initiatives can benefit from the best practices collected.
The ARCH gUG
Kerstin Rice
E-Mail: contact@thearch.org / Phone: +49 1575 8174 306 / Website: www.thearch.org