Dyslexic young people at Hjembæk Efterskole in West Zealand are now given the opportunity to try their hand at transport and logistics. This is made possible with support from the ATTA Foundation, which is co-owner of a number of transport and logistics companies.
With funding from the ATTA Foundation, the school has, among other things, invested in ATVs, various equipment, and truck simulators. These tools create the framework for a new subject focusing on transport and logistics, which the school would otherwise not have the financial means to offer, says Deputy Headmaster Thomas Vinther.
“All students struggle with dyslexia and have often experienced setbacks in the education system. They learn best through practical and experience-based activities, and this new subject is a perfect fit for their needs. That is why we are very pleased to offer it. It is a concrete investment in the students’ future,” he says.
A personal commitment
Behind the establishment of the ATTA Foundation are Thorkil Stæhr Andersen and Annie Stæhr Thomsen, who are married and, together with their daughters, run various companies within transport and logistics.
“We have been running companies within transport and logistics for more than 35 years, and in connection with a generational transition we established the ATTA Foundation, which is a co-owner of TA Logistics A/S and the owner of, among others, Frode Laursen A/S, Skanol A/S, and Kaj Madsen A/S. It is our view that the transport sector in particular offers strong opportunities for a good career, even for people with dyslexia,” they explain, as Thorkil Andersen continues:
“I myself am dyslexic, and Annie, as a former high school teacher, has met many children struggling with dyslexia. That is why we know how much it can hold you back, and how painful it can be. But we also know how far you can get if you receive the right support and the right tools. That is why we want to support others in finding their place in life and create hope for a good future,” explains Thorkil.
The ATTA Foundation has previously funded the evaluation of Doolexia, a computer program for daily training in spelling and reading. A total of 524 pupils in grades 4–8 and 54 teachers from 29 schools took part in the evaluation, which shows that the intervention helps students improve their spelling and reading skills, and that the effect is sustained six months after the Doolexia programme has ended. It is expected that in the years ahead, the ATTA Foundation will also support initiatives within transport and logistics.
A potential turning point
As the first in their families to obtain an education, Thorkil Andersen and Annie Stæhr Thomsen both know how significant an education—whether vocational or academic—can be. For the students, the new subject may also become an important step towards self-confidence and further education, according to Thomas Vinther.
“The teaching gives the students academic success and personal development. They experience that they can succeed – something many have not tried before. It builds confidence, and for several, the programme becomes a turning point where they can see themselves as part of an educational community and a future working life,” he explains.
This is the case, among others, for 17-year-old Cecilie Cramer, who is one of the students in the new elective programme:
“Primary school was a bit difficult, but that is not the case at the boarding school, where I have made many friends and where the teaching is more practical. Not least in the new subject, which I look forward to every week. The theory lessons are really exciting, but especially because we can connect them to the exercises in the simulator and on the ATV track while it is still fresh in our memory. So I am very happy with the new subject,” she says.
Key contacts
Hjembæk Efterskole:
Thomas Vinther, Deputy Headmaster, +45 61 55 77 77 viceforstander@hjef.dk
ATTA Fonden:
Thorkil Andersen +45 40 64 05 79 thand@ta-logistics.dk
Or
Annie Stæhr Thomsen +45 22174024