· Basic and advanced plumber training to help people to help themselves
· GROHE Dual Tech also aims to enhance the professionalism of the sanitary trade in emerging nations and help alleviate skills shortages
· Cooperation agreement puts successful shared efforts by GROHE and Don Bosco Mondo e.V. on a long-term footing
Since 2009 GROHE has cooperated with the Salesians of Don Bosco and Don Bosco Mondo e.V. with a view to improving the life chances of disadvantaged young people. During this time the partners have jointly opened three GROHE Dual Tech training workshops for disadvantaged youths in India and the Philippines. Additional sites in other countries are at the planning stage. Most recently Grohe AG und Don Bosco Mondo e.V. signed a cooperation agreement laying out their plans for continued successful cooperation.
More than 800 youths have already completed a training course at one of the three GROHE Dual Tech centres, thereby improving their life significantly. Take Russel D’Souza. His father used to work as a plumber and electrician but lacked formal qualifications in these trades. When Russel D’Souza heard about the GROHE Dual Tech programme, he put in an application and graduated from the Advanced Plumbing Course among the top five in his class. He was subsequently hired by GROHE where he now works as a technician and takes pride in the work he does for the big-name companies that are his customers.
Kashiram Jaiswal is another GROHE employee who joined the company after undergoing proficiency training at GROHE Dual Tech, having previously qualified as a plumbing technician and gained experience as a plumber for several years. The advanced training not only opened doors for him at his new employer but also resulted in his salary more than doubling. He is already contemplating his next career moves. “A few years from now I could see myself become Area Manager and then possibly Technical Director,” he explains.
New career prospects opened up for Manoj Tikaram Singh, too, when his employer sent him on a two-month update course on new techniques and equipment at the GROHE Dual Tech training workshop. Having completed the course, he was made foreman for up to five people and his salary rose accordingly. Looking ahead, he is considering a variety of career routes which may take him to a position as a project manager or designer.
Apart from the young people attending the training programmes, the joint initiative of GROHE and Don Bosco Mondo also benefits the Indian and Philippine economies. The supply of professionally trained and qualified young plumbers and sanitary technicians helps alleviate the local skills shortages in this area. At the same time, the cooperating partners continue to improve public perception of the plumbing trade by highlighting the career prospects available to successful graduates. This is confirmed by Pramod Kumar Kannaujia. He, too, was sent on a course at the GROHE Dual Tech training centre by his employer in order to get better acquainted with GROHE products. He says: “I enjoy plumbing and would like to stay in the sanitary sector as long as it offers me good career prospects.” All graduates agree that the involvement of the GROHE brand adds value to the image of the branch. Says Manoj Tikaram Singh: “For me, GROHE is something like the ‘Jaguar’ brand in the sanitary market.”
The enthusiasm displayed by these young people is an important reason why GROHE and Don Bosco Mondo e.V. feel vindicated in their commitment to the cause. Grohe AG Board member Michael Mager explains: “We want to roll out GROHE Dual Tech together with a trusted partner. Don Bosco remains our preferred partner with whom we aim to leverage our shared experience in future projects, for well-trained sanitary professionals are very much sought after in the emerging economies.” Hans-Jürgen Dörrich, Head of Corporate Cooperation at Don Bosco Mondo e.V. concurs: “We want to instil enthusiasm for learning in youths and enable them in this way to take responsibility for their own activities.” Signed by Michael Mager and Hans-Jürgen Dörrich at a celebration in Hemer on 16 December 2016, the newly framed cooperation agreement testifies to the success of the partners’ award winning initiative. It also documents their willingness to continue their joint efforts for the benefit of disadvantaged youths in emerging nations, helping them to help themselves and improve their lives on a sustained basis.
About GROHE
GROHE is the world’s leading provider of sanitary fittings and a global brand, dedicated to providing innovative water products.
For many decades, GROHE has been committed to the brand values of technology, quality, design and sustainability that all illustrate GROHE’s commitment to creating exceptional experiences and to delivering “Pure Freude an Wasser”. With its engineering, innovation and design activities firmly anchored in Germany, GROHE products bear the badge of quality “Made in Germany”, ultimately strengthening the customers’ confidence in the brand. All plants of the GROHE manufacturing network make use of high-precision production engineering to ensure compliance with consistently high GROHE standards. This way GROHE ensures that its products live up to the most uncompromising demands in terms of workmanship and functionality.
Over the past ten years alone, the success of GROHE has been confirmed by more than 240 design and innovation awards as well as several top rankings as one of “Germany’s most sustainable major companies”. Numerous high-profile projects around the globe are fitted with GROHE products, testifying to architects’, designers’ and developers’ preference for the brand.
GROHE is part of the LIXIL Group Corporation, a publicly listed company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. LIXIL is the global market leader in the sanitary ware industry, managing a broad portfolio of well-known household brands such as GROHE, American Standard, and INAX. It is also Japan’s leading provider of housing and building materials, products and services.