Having developed a winter coat-sleeping bag combination especially for homeless people together with "Wafe" (Warm and Safe), five textile students of the Hochschule Niederrhein were awarded on Wednesday. The association "Benediktpreis von Mönchengladbach" honored the commitment of Tamiya Lorenz, Sarah Sairung Klein, Klara Schuh, Greta Lutterbüse and Julia Segschneider with the Junior Award 2023.
The Benedict Prize is awarded for particularly value-oriented action within the framework of Christian Western culture. Since 2015, there has also been the Junior Prize, worth 1,000 euros, for 17- to 30-year-olds involved in voluntary work.
"You wanted a product that would improve the adverse living conditions of the homeless. That's why you dealt in depth with those affected and their situation without fear of contact - and did so much more intensively than would actually have been necessary," said Professor Dr. Harald Vergossen of the association's Executive Board, explaining the decision to honor you.
In fact, the conversations with people living on the street were decisive for the appropriate design and functionality of "Wafe". "It was only through this that we really realized what was important," said student Klara Schuh. At the request of those affected, the fellow students from the Faculty of Textile and Clothing Technology opted for an inconspicuous but safe design. In their joint semester project, they designed the jacket and sleeping bag in understated black, with the inner layer in blue. Discreetly sewn reflectors ensure the necessary visibility at night in road traffic.
The students, who are all studying different areas of specialisation, integrated a total of 14 pockets for stowing belongings. The materials are water-repellent, waterproof and warming.
Zippers allow the prototypes to be converted as needed. Thus, the inner jacket layer can be separated out in warmer temperatures. The sleeping bag becomes a blanket to sit on during the day. Thanks to straps and the possibility to open the sleeping bag at the bottom, dungarees are created. Combined with the winter coat, this creates a two-piece.
Mayor Felix Heinrichs praised the innovation in a social context. "Many do not talk to affected homeless people, but about them. It is a difficult field, with which you have dealt. That is worthy of all honor!"
The Gladbach bank, in whose premises the prize was awarded, was also impressed by the prototypes - and spontaneously held out the prospect of 3000 euros for the production of the winter coat-sleeping bag combination.
The semester project was initiated by the Rotary Club Mönchengladbach-Gero. The idea of the winter coat-sleeping bag combination was born together with the local deaconry and the Rheydt homeless meeting place Café Pflaster.
