Former Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) has indicated that she is considering the establishment of a scholarship fund aimed at supporting young people facing challenging life circumstances. In a conversation with the magazine Focus, Merkel clarified that this program would not be intended for high-achieving students. Instead, it would focus on youths who are in the transitional phase between completing school and beginning vocational training, specifically targeting those whose life situations are difficult and where existing state measures are currently insufficient.
According to Merkel, the modest financial support would serve as a visible declaration: that “everyone can make it”. She noted that the broader social promise of upward mobility is currently jeopardized, as belief in this possibility has waned. Therefore, she suggested that such a scholarship could serve as a tangible model or example to restore confidence and prove that advancement is attainable.
