Inclusion starts where strengths are seen

As part of the Help Tech annual mug project for 2025, Help Tech invited children and young people with visual impairments and blindness to take part in a creative competition. The theme was: “I can do it — in my own way.” Participants were encouraged to share what makes them special, their abilities, interests, strengths, or personal expressions. Many brave, creative, and confident entries were received.

The winning idea comes from Heiligenbronn

The class HSK 2 from the special education school for visual impairments (SBBZ Sehen Heiligenbronn) stood out in the competition. The jury was so impressed by the creativity of the whole class that all their artwork became favorites.

The final winning idea was from Afan, a sixth-grade student. His piece shows a soccer player on the field, focused, calm, and fully in the moment.

Afan wrote about his drawing:

“Me on the field. No worries. Just me, the ball, the opponent. Inner peace.” 

This combination of picture and words was chosen as the winner. To Help Tech, it represents inner strength, concentration, and self-confidence, showing what children carry inside themselves and how they see the world.

Afan’s winning design now appears on the official Help Tech annual mug for 2025, which is sent to customers worldwide.

A special moment of giving back

At the end of January, Help Tech’s CEO Marc Züfle and customer consultant Markus Klay presented a €500 donation to the winning class on behalf of Help Tech. The school plans to use the money for a shared class outing.

This moment was especially meaningful for Markus, because he himself once attended the same school, returning now as part of the Help Tech team and giving something back.

School principal Dietmar Stephan (from left), Bernhard Uhl (Head of the Primary and Secondary Education Department – Learning Track), Marc Züfle (Managing Director of Help Tech), and Markus Klay (Customer Consultant at Help Tech) during the donation handover at the Special Education and Counseling Center for Visual Impairments (SBBZ Sehen Heiligenbronn), together with the winning class.

Why Help Tech organizes this

The SBBZ Sehen Heiligenbronn supports children and young people with visual impairments or blindness on their educational journey. The focus is not on deficits, but on abilities, independence, and participation.

That is exactly what connects us. As a company, we have been developing aids for people with visual impairments for over 30 years. But above all, we believe in people and their strengths.

“It's about showing what children can do, not what they can't do,” says Marc Züfle.

With each annual cup, one of these ideas becomes a message: every child has talents. And every talent deserves appreciation.