The fate of children often remains hidden. Other topics dominate the headlines, and people forget that children are often directly affected. Pandemics, war or the economic situation have a direct impact. If the parents are then overwhelmed, often it no longer works without outside help. 

It is precisely this kind of help that the Albert-Schweitzer-Kinderdorf e.V. Baden-Württemberg has dedicated itself to. If all measures to stabilize families have failed, the Albert-Schweitzer-Kinderdorf in Waldenburg offers a safe haven for children of all ages. Cooperation with the youth welfare offices plays a central role here. 

As early as 1957, Margarete Gutöhrlein had the idea of creating a safe haven for children from precarious family backgrounds. Even more, the children should be able to grow up in a safe environment and with the support of specialists. Today, up to seven children live in one Kinderdorf family. And in the more than 60 years of its existence, 600 children have found a new home in Waldenburg. The motto above all is: "We want to respect each child in its personality, accept it in its individual uniqueness, strengthen it in its abilities and promote it." 

In addition to many committed Kinderdorf parents and employees, this work requires one thing above all: financial resources. The buildings have to be maintained, vehicles have to be purchased and serviced. Learning materials, toys and many other daily necessities have to be bought, and the team has to be paid. And it is a perpetual struggle, as Wolfgang Bartole, Director of Economics, confirmed to us during our visit, to get the necessary funds. Every Euro has to be turned around twice, so to speak. 

And this is where we, MEFA Befestigungs- und Montagesysteme GmbH from Kupferzell, would like to help. So far, we have always supported the Albert-Schweitzer-Kinderdorf with smaller donations. But this year we want to do it even better. Normally, our customers always get a little something at Christmas to thank them for the good cooperation. Something comes together quickly. And that's the amount we're donating. The €15,000, Susanne Wirth, responsible for public relations, told us, will be used to purchase an urgently needed new vehicle. Money well and sensibly invested. 

We hope that we can make a contribution to the preservation of this important facility. If it is always said that children are our future, then in Waldenburg we are actively working on this future. 

One more important thing: do you know any people with a background in social pedagogy who enjoy working with children? The team of the Albert-Schweitzer-Kinderdorf urgently needs reinforcement. Information and applications simply via the website: www.albert-schweitzer-kinderdorf.de