More about life at Albert-Schweitzer-Kinderdorf

Founded in 1957, the Children's Village Association is an international, non-denominational and non-partisan association based in Waldenburg.
As an organization of youth welfare, the purpose of its work is to promote the development and education of young people.
On the 2.5-hectare site on the outskirts of Waldenburg, the Children's Village families live in a large house with a garden in a kind of village community. In addition to the seven family houses, the association's educational and commercial administration, the fully residential girls' group, the Forest Pirates Kindergarten, a house for guests, a bakery, the sports field and an adventure-pedagogical garden are located on the large grounds, embedded in beautiful nature with numerous woods and meadows. But what kind of families actually live there?

One "normal" family lives in each house with their own children and up to seven other children. One parent is an educational specialist who works as a housemother/father, while the other parent continues to work in his/her main job. In addition, the family is supported by a pedagogical and housekeeping team. Through this interaction between the family and educational professionals, the children experience recognition, protection and clarity in their upbringing. They experience security and receive individual support in a safe environment. This intensive form of living together offers the often traumatized young people a high degree of stability, reliability and orientation. The biological parents remain an essential part of the children's biographies for their further development.