The new pilot project by the Evangelisches Klinikum Bethel (EvKB), which is funded by the LMSt and the only one of its kind in Germany, aims to help lonely children and young people to lead healthy and happy lives. Together with Pastor Ulrich Pohl, Chairman of the Board of Bethel, and Thorsten Kaatze, Chairman and Managing Director of EvKB, Liz Mohn gets an impression of the program, which is based at Bethel’s Haus Sophia. The ground floor of the building was recently renovated for the project.
For a long time, loneliness was primarily considered a problem of older age. However, this has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientific studies show that children and adolescents now hold the unfortunate distinction of being the loneliest age group. “The loneliness of young people is a serious social challenge that we are now tackling together,” emphasizes the founder in conversation with the children and other participants, such as project managers Dr. Steffi Koch-Stoecker (EvKB) and Dr. Theresa Hornischer (LMSt) as well as team leader Katharina Muregancuro (EvKB).
“Growing together. Working together” offers children and young people aged 10 to 17, who often feel lonely, the opportunity to become part of a community. They are accompanied by psychological and educational specialists and work on topics such as dealing with emotions, self-esteem, or stress tolerance, for example, and have the opportunity to participate in workshops and activities in the cultural and creative field. The children and young people also receive support from volunteers, who act as personal mentors. Connections and friendships grow through joint activities such as cooking, sports, and excursions—or even a scavenger hunt.
The relationships of trust that have been established enable most of the participating girls and boys to talk about their fears and concerns. “I admire the children for how they have opened up over time and shared what moves them,” Lisa Sauer tells visitors. The Bielefeld teacher is one of around 20 people who volunteer for “Growing Together. Working Together”.
The participating children and young people find a safe place where they are welcome at Haus Sophia in Bethel. The protected environment is designed to help them develop new perspectives for themselves. Participation is free of charge for the boys and girls. The project will initially run for two years. Six to eight children and young people will participate in two groups for six months, followed by the next round with other girls and boys.
Liz Mohn takes home not only many new impressions from her visit to Bethel, but also the words that Pastor Pohl addresses to her as she leaves: “We are deeply grateful to you for making this important project possible.”
The upcoming children’s and youth groups will begin in November. Those interested in seeking support regarding loneliness should contact: wachsenundwirken@evkb.de.
Additional information:
The project was preceded by online research conducted by the Liz Mohn Foundation. The sample covers existing services to combat loneliness in the Gütersloh area, where the foundation is based. It also highlights which target groups are addressed by which organizations and what barriers to access exist. This enables local officials to identify where there are gaps in provision and where targeted action is needed to make their work for the community even more effective. Those seeking help can also find contact points here: Loneliness prevention among young people – Gütersloh area and surroundings (German)
