Oberberg – The 1st BC Wipperfeld cooperates with several schools in Wipperfürth and Marienheide – the offer is to be expanded, but the funding from the Hans Hermann Voss Foundation is running out.
Since the beginning of the 2024/2025 school year there has been a cooperation between the 1.BC Wipperfeld 2011, the Hermann-Voss-Realschule and the St. Angela Gymnasium from Wipperfürth, as well as the comprehensive school in Marienheide. When offering cooperation, the badminton club surveyed the interests of the three schools and then organized different offers. At St. Angela High School, a working group got off to a good start to the school year on Monday afternoon following morning classes. Two junior coaching assistants, who go to St. Angela themselves, introduced younger secondary school students to the sport. After a good start, however, student interest waned over the course of the first half of the year, so that the AG no longer took place in the second half of the year. The program was resumed at the beginning of the current school year and currently takes place regularly with six to eight students.
At the Hermann-Voss-Realschule, two lessons of badminton were initially offered on Wednesdays in the two sports classes at levels 5 and 6 as part of two additional sports lessons. This school year, in consultation with the school, the offer was extended to the other grades 5 and reduced in sports grade 6. C-license trainer and Bundesliga player Samuel Hsiao, supported by the two respective class and sports teachers, teaches the classes a double lesson each.
At lunchtime, Samuel Hsiao then goes on to Marienheide, where he started an “open offer” in the lunchtime free time at the local comprehensive school together with trainer assistant Hannah Müller, which was then followed by a working group (AG) in the afternoon area. Not only students from levels 5 to 7 of the comprehensive school take part in the group, but also students from the two Marienheid primary schools. Over the course of the past year and a half, the request for AG places has increased.
Schools and clubs would like the project to continue in the 2026/2027 school year; agreements are being made between those responsible on the school and club sides. The Hans Hermann Voss Foundation granted start-up funding for two school years in the summer of 2024, but ruled out further commitment. Whether and how the project can be further financed from the summer onwards remains to be seen in the next few months. The search for sponsors to continue the project is already underway.
