During the chrismas season, a very special Christmas tree stands at all a&o Hostels across Europe: the a&o Christmas Wish Tree.

The Christmas tree is beautifully decorated with round "wish cards". Each card stands for a wish – the wish for access to education and opportunities to participate. 

With your donation, you help make this wish come true for children and young people.

How it works

1. Discover the a&o Christmas Wish Tree in the lobby of your a&o Hostel.
2. Scan the QR code on one of the wish tree cards.
3. Donate – choose your donation amount – every euro helps.

Not at an a&o Hostel right now?

No problem – you can also donate directly here.

What your donation is used for

Education opens doors – to a good school-leaving qualification, to vocational training, to a self-determined life. But not all children and young people have the same opportunities. This is exactly where SOS Children’s Villages comes in.

Your donation goes to SOS Children’s Villages education projects in Germany – with a focus on supporting children and young people from lower secondary school through to vocational training.

For example:

• Learning support and tutoring – so that nobody falls behind
• Language support for young people with a migration background
• Learning materials and support with exam preparation
• Educational outings that spark curiosity

These examples show what your donation can achieve. SOS Children’s Villages uses the funds where they are most urgently needed in education.

Who is behind it
The a&o Christmas Wish Tree is a campaign by the charitable organisation a&o educare e. V. in cooperation with a&o Hostels and SOS Children’s Villages.

a&o educare e. V. collects all donations and passes them on in full to SOS Children’s Villages after the end of the campaign.

You can find more information about SOS Children’s Villages >> here!

Would you like to support the project?

FAQ - Frequently asked questions

How long does the campaign run?
Throughout Advent until 31 December. The Christmas wish trees are in all a&o Hostels.

Who receives my donation?
All donations go to SOS-Kinderdorf e. V. (SOS Children’s Villages Germany) and are used there for education projects for children and young people in Germany.

Why projects in Germany?
The campaign partner is SOS-Kinderdorf e. V., based in Munich. It guarantees that the donations go to education projects in Germany.

Do I have to take a card from the tree?
No. Just scan the QR code – the card can stay on the tree so that other guests can discover it too.

How secure is the online donation?
Donations are processed via the FundraisingBox donation platform, with PayPal, credit card or SEPA direct debit as payment methods.

Will I receive a donation receipt?
If requested, we issue donation receipts – but only for donations of €300 or more, because (in Germany) a donation receipt is only required for donations of €300 or more. For donations up to this amount, a bank statement is sufficient to claim the donation for tax purposes.

Thank you for taking part!

We wish you a wonderful time at a&o and a merry Christmas.

Your a&o educare team