The ZDF fundraising gala "Die große Weihnachtsshow", hosted by Giovanni Zarrella, celebrates its premiere on 4 December. Viewers can look forward to an Advent evening on ZDF from 20:15 with many stars such as Eros Ramazzotti, Beatrice Egli, Howard Carpendale, No Angels, Andreas Gabalier and Alexander Klaws. Giovanni Zarrella will take over from Carmen Nebel as host of the traditional ZDF fundraising gala for the first time. During the live show from Offenburg, donations will be collected for Bread for the World and Misereor. Together with their local partner organisations, the two church aid organisations for development cooperation stand by the side of disadvantaged people in poorer regions of the world and campaign for a dignified life for all.
In the films on projects in Côte d'Ivoire, Peru, Sri Lanka and Ukraine, the audience will be able to get an idea of the many ways in which they can support people in need with their donation during the gala.
Four example projects take centre stage at the gala
In Côte d'Ivoire, Misereor is supporting a project run by its partner organisation ASMU that reaches young people in the slums of Abidjan. They receive practical training in numerous trades and service professions. They also learn to read and write. In further workshops, they acquire knowledge about bookkeeping and management. This strengthens local businesses, creates new training places and opens up long-term future opportunities for around 400 young people every year. The project was visited by Giovanni Zarrella.
Bread for the World supports the partner organisation ARARIWA in Peru. It works with smallholder families to combat the consequences of climate change: irrigation ditches are built, water supplies are collected and native trees are planted to improve the microclimate due to the lack of rainfall. In workshops, the families learn sustainable techniques, such as the construction of low-cost sprinklers, in order to use water efficiently and secure harvests and income.
In Sri Lanka, Misereor works with the local partner organisation SEDEC. For generations, women in particular have been picking tea leaves for low wages. The organisation empowers the women by informing the workers about their rights, organising meetings and promoting their independence. This enables them to build a better life for themselves with small businesses - away from the tea plantations.
In Ukraine, Bread for the World and its partner organisation Child Well-being Fund (CWBF) are helping families displaced by war to overcome trauma. They find protection and psychological help in a converted school. They organise workshops that strengthen mental well-being. This enables children and adults to come to terms with the experiences of war, integrate into the village community and make a fresh start.
Zarrella on social responsibility
Giovanni Zarrella takes over the gala with great anticipation and emphasises why social commitment is important to him: "We must not go through life with blinkers on and only look at ourselves, but must see what is happening in the world and how we can get involved." Speaking about his project visit to Misereor's project partner ASMU in Côte d'Ivoire, he says: "They make sure that people are trained and can then make a living from the work they learn."
Last year, more than 3 million euros were raised for the work of Bread for the World and Misereor. The ZDF Gala thus set a new record for donations.
Celebrities on the donation phone
During the programme, celebrities such as Marijke Amado, René Casselly and Jana Ina Zarrella accept donations by telephone. The donation hotline 0180 22020 (6 cents/call from all German networks) will be manned on Thursday, 4 December from 8:15 pm until midnight on Friday, 5 December.
There is a joint Misereor and Bread for the World account for donations to the fundraising gala:
Bread for the World
Sozial Bank AG, Cologne
Keyword ZDF-Weihnachtsshow
IBAN: DE63 3702 0500 0004 1084 03
BIC: BFSWDE33XXX
