Former Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) is considering establishing a scholarship program aimed at supporting young people facing challenging life circumstances. Speaking to the news magazine Focus, she stated that she is currently exploring the idea of awarding such a scholarship.
According to Merkel, the intended support program should not be geared toward high-achieving students, but rather toward youths who are in the difficult transition phase between completing school and starting vocational training. She explained that the program is designed for individuals who find themselves in challenging situations during this gap period, particularly where existing state-run measures have not yet effectively taken hold.
The basic goal of the support is to demonstrate that “everyone can succeed”. However, Merkel noted that the general promise of social mobility is currently at risk. Given that too few people firmly believe that this progress is possible, the former Chancellor suggests that a scholarship of this nature could potentially serve as a key example to restore belief in the system.