Girls’ Day at Hering Bau a success

News published on 15:38:33 25.05.2009

Over 126,000 girls took part in the national Girls' Day on 23 April. The 9th time it has been staged, young women thirsty for knowledge investigated professions in the field of technology and research. Throughout the country, companies, workshops, town councils, universities, police, technical relief agencies and fire stations, barracks and numerous other establishments all opened their doors to girls in search of inspiration for their choice of career.

Over 9,000 events were staged nationwide in the scope of the promotion, which has its origins in the USA and is now staged in numerous European countries. In spite of an excellent average schooling, most girls and young women still choose "typically female" apprenticeships and studies. Girls' Day offers female pupils from the 5th grade upwards the opportunity to test so-called "male jobs" for a day and discover opportunities for their future professional careers.

This year, Hering Group offered not one but two activities: the taster session was not only to be staged at the Burbach site; Girls' Day participants would also have the opportunity to experience track system technology at first hand at the iaf in Münster. The third day of the fair fell on Girls' Day, consequently, with the support of the VDEI, this motto was followed. At the Hering/ Kirow stand Annette Hering and Peter Kölsch were waiting to welcome the 16 visitors and demonstrate the function of a crane to them. The girls then even had the opportunity to climb into the crane cabin and perform some of the actions themselves. Finally, the young women were also able to practice train driving on the track system simulator and move and install a rail with the Robel company.

The same morning in Holzhausen saw the arrival of 24 girls from schools in Burbach, Haiger and Siegen. Following initial instruction, the girls, aged 13 – 16, were fitted out with full protective clothing. Under the watchful eye of the Hering supervisors they then formed groups and visited 4 stations, where the girls were able to join in with the tasks energetically. The activities of the following professions were demonstrated here: concrete/reinforced concrete worker, mechanic for agricultural and construction machinery, parts preparer and excavator operator. In the workshop the participants made their own paperweights, whilst in the laboratory of the prefab plant concrete was mixed for sample slabs. As was the case last year, driving the mini excavator proved to be enormous fun.

Not only was a course completed and sand shovelled - the functions and technical details of the excavator were also illustrated. For the girls the day was exciting and informational, with one young lady declaring "I would definitely apply for a job here!"