Students from a school based in Oberhausen, Germany, will be working on a reforestation program in China for four weeks. T-Systems brings them together with their fellow-students for an interim report in an environmentally-friendly fashion – with video conferencing.

China is close in the virtual world – the students from the Elsa-Brändström-Gymnasium in Oberhausen know that better than any other students. They have witnessed a live report from four of their fellow-students from the Far East – via desktop video conferencing on the Internet. T-Systems provided the software and will also provide long-term support for the youth program Stiftung Welt:Klasse, which initiated the trip.

"You don't have to board a plane to attend a meeting"

"The program wants to promote intercultural exchange and a better understanding of global interrelations and environmental topics," says Matti Spiecker from Stiftung Welt:Klasse. The desktop video conferences are a perfect fit. They often eliminate flights and drives and thus reduce CO2 emissions. "Maybe when they're busy with their careers, the kids will remember that they don't have to board a plane to attend a meeting," said T-Systems project director Frank Wallbaum directly following the broadcast from China. And it was not the last of its kind. T-Systems will also make the software available for upcoming broadcasts.