SOCIAL IMPACT
Places That Strengthen Community
EXERCISE, SAFETY, AND COMMUNITY
With its “Bike Days,” G3 Gerasdorf created a free program offering physical activity and social interaction for young people. A total of 620 children and teens aged 2 to 13 participated. Playful exercises provided an opportunity to build cycling skills, self-confidence, and safety, promoting collaborative learning and social participation.
THINKING STRATEGICALLY, BRIDGING GENERATIONS
Open chess events at our centers bring people of all ages together. In a relaxed atmosphere, they can play together, learn from one another, and compete in a spirit of fair play. These events create opportunities for people to meet and interact, and aim to strengthen the centers’ role as gathering places for the local community.
PROMOTING HEALTH AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN DAILY LIFE
Through health days at 79 shopping centers and other sports-related activities, our centers offer a wide range of programs focused on prevention and an active lifestyle. Information, counseling, and hands-on activities impart health knowledge, while programs such as group running clubs get people moving and help them connect with one another. In this way, the centers support the promotion of health literacy, physical activity, and community in their local areas.
HEALTH CARE RIGHT IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Adigeo in Verona offered free breast cancer screening exams, making this important preventive service accessible right at the center. In addition, psychologists provided information about the risks of gambling addiction and helped those affected find appropriate support services.
COLLECTING TOGETHER
At the Koszalin Forum, the “Tree for Waste Paper” campaign collected more than 2.5 metric tons of waste paper. The campaign highlighted the collective effort through a tangible result and demonstrated how many individual contributions can add up to make a difference.
CLOTHING TURNS INTO SUPPORT
At the Megalo in Vicenza, more than five metric tons of clothing were collected for reuse under the slogan “Dal passato al futuro.” The campaign aimed to make social engagement an accessible and tangible experience.
Breaking Down Barriers, Promoting Inclusion
Through targeted measures and digital solutions, we help improve accessibility and promote participation in the center's daily life.
ACCESSIBLE COMMUNICATION
Strengthening Participation in the Center's Daily Life
Accessibility isn’t just about structural measures. Clear, respectful, and attentive communication also plays a crucial role in ensuring that people with diverse needs feel welcome and safe in our centers. That’s why we provide training for our employees. Our colleagues in the centers, in particular, interact with a wide variety of people, so the training uses typical situations from everyday center life to demonstrate how linguistic and behavioral barriers can be recognized and avoided using simple methods. The bottom line is this: barriers also arise from attitudes and behavior. We can all help break them down.
PILOT AT THE MAIN-ZAUNUS CENTER
Accessible Wayfinding via App
At the Main-Taunus-Zentrum (MTZ), ECE is testing the contagt app, an interactive guide for accessible wayfinding. Accessible via smartphone, it assists visitors with a 3D map, smart destination search, navigation across multiple levels, and customized routes that can be calculated to avoid barriers. Additional features such as audio prompts, screen reader compatibility, voice input, visual cues, and multilingual support make it easier for visitors to navigate the center independently. In this way, the MTZ combines digital innovation with a clear goal: greater accessibility for everyone.