The parents' café at the Kinderhaus Pusteblume offers space for exchange and encouragement

To prevent worries, fears and grief from becoming an unbearable burden, the Parents' Café at the Pusteblume Children's House in Burg (Spreewald) offers a space for exchange and encouragement. Here, the parents of children with life-shortening illnesses are at the center of attention. Conversations and meetings with people who feel similarly help those affected, in addition to various therapeutic offers. Based on the experiences of others, parents learn how to deal with their situation and understand the reactions of friends and acquaintances. Not infrequently, entire families are affected.

At the Johanniter Kinderhaus Pusteblume in Burg (Spreewald), in addition to counseling services, the idea of a parents' café took on a very concrete form when the two BTU students Sandra Gorenz and Luisa Müller developed the concept for the new event format. As part of their internship in the Social Work bachelor's degree program, they played a key role in ensuring that the parents' café could open on January 21, 2023, with the support of Christina Blohm, the pedagogical director of the Johanniter Children's Home in Burg.

Sandra Gorenz says: "Until it was ready, there was a lot to think about, to organize, and of course we also learned a lot. Luisa Müller adds: "We learned a lot about how Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e.V. works and its structures. However, the important thing - and we are very happy about this - is that the offer is very well received and that we were able to do something for the affected families that is a real help."

Consultations and talks can be a valuable support. In particular, meeting and exchanging ideas with those affected who are experiencing or have experienced similar things should not be underestimated. They not only provide comfort, but also offer important space for brief time-outs. The meetings at the Parents' Café take place once a month, on the first Friday of each month. The regular attendance of eight to ten people shows that the families are able to adjust well.

Sandra Gorenz sums up: "We put a lot of emphasis on the room being inviting and the atmosphere being right. Mothers and fathers also like to get involved themselves. Cakes are baked, everyone contributes something. It's very family-like." "And that's what it's supposed to be," Luisa Müller emphasizes, "the most important thing remains contact with each other, listening, telling, comforting and encouraging. Our parents are not alone!" Sandra Gorenz adds, "This work is not sad. There are many beautiful moments!"

The parent café offers monthly meetings for exchange, thematic evenings or information events. The concept relies on parent support and volunteerism. The Parents' Café is donation-financed and relies on financial support. For the further development of the project, it is planned to involve more BTU students as part of their internship in Social Work. During their internship, they learn to apply knowledge acquired during their studies to real-life situations. In addition to the reference to Social Work, the students also learn about structures and processes in the institutions and companies concerned.

There are a number of social institutions that provide very individual support in such and similar situations, for example with therapy offers, sibling work or mourning work.

Contact

Sandra Gorenz, graduate of Bachelor Social Work, co-developer of "Elterncafé", worked in the fundraising department of Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e.V. until July 31, 2023: Sandra.gorenz(at)b-tu.de

Luisa Müller, graduate of Bachelor Social Work, co-developer of "Elterncafé": luisa.mueller(at)b-tu.de