United into a strong season: the trainees of the VTG RailTrain program and the young basketball players of the Hamburg Towers, the Pirates, have prepared for the upcoming tasks with a joint training session today. Andy Grote, Senator for the Interior and Sport of the City of Hamburg, gave the starting signal with the first ball throw-in. In this context, he praised the social commitment of the Towers and VTG. "It is not only in sport that strong role models are needed. With their commitment to children and young people, VTG and the Hamburg Towers show how important social responsibility is for our urban society. A strong partnership that hopefully motivates many more to get involved as well," Grote said in his speech.
VTG and the first division basketball club Hamburg Towers have been working together since the beginning of the year: As Connecting Worlds Partner, VTG promotes the Hamburg Towers. This strong partnership goes far beyond the sporting aspect and the shared passion for basketball. In particular, both partners are united in their efforts to support and promote young people in the city.
This is where VTG AG comes in with its integrative training program VTG RailTrain, launched in 2017. VTG RailTrain offers young people with more difficult starting conditions the opportunity to complete a qualified training as a specialist for metal technology with a specialisation in construction technology. "We accompany the young people individually and, in addition to technical components, also offer in-house remedial teaching in German and maths as well as socio-educational support. In Germany in particular, a qualification is indispensable for starting a career and establishing an independent existence," says Dr. Heiko Fischer, Chairman of the Executive Board of VTG AG. After successfully completing their training, the young construction mechanics are given the opportunity to further specialise in VTG's own workshops or in the mobile service of the Hamburg-based traditional company. VTG RailTrain's third year of training began in September 2019.
Since its foundation, the Hamburg Towers has been involved in numerous social projects for children and young people through the association Sport ohne Grenzen e.V. (Sport without Borders). Through sport, young people are taught self-confidence, fairness, team spirit and the knowledge that commitment pays off. "Not everyone can become a top athlete, but we want to help children and young people find their place in society. The fact that faith in success and hard work can make a big difference is something we are experiencing right now with our start in the first German Basketball League, easyCredit BBL," says Marvin Willoughby, Managing Director of Hamburg Towers.
VTG RailTrain trainees and the young Towers players of the Hamburg Pirates got together during a joint basketball training session followed by a tour of the training workshop on the Blohm + Voss site.