By Pastor Bernd Siggelkow | Founder & Director
A few weeks ago, I visited one of the Arche summer camps. Meeting the children there moved me deeply. On my way home, many thoughts ran through my mind. I wondered how many of these kids were experiencing a holiday for the very first time. And then I remembered: as a child, I myself only ever went on one holiday.
The sister of my grandmother, who sadly passed away when I was still young, would sometimes give my brother and me tickets to the circus or the zoo. Before she died, she gave me a small piggybank that she had filled — 70 or 80 Marks. As a child who grew up with very little, I was incredibly proud of that. It felt like something that might one day open a small door for me.
Not long afterward, my single father told my brother and me that we would be going away for a weekend. We had never experienced anything like that. We drove to a campsite where my father spent his time fishing, leaving us alone for most of the day. We had a new tent, which felt exciting at first — but my father only returned late at night, and one night, he didn’t return at all. We waited for him, scared and unsure. When we finally came home after three days, I had a terrible sunburn from sitting by the road for hours, waiting for him. As soon as we were back, he threw the tent away. My piggy bank was empty. My father had used the many to buy the tent. It was our first and last holiday.
It was a memory of both fear and longing — longing for experiences, warmth, and care. And it left me with a deep understanding: no child should have to grow up feeling alone.
Years later, that understanding became the foundation for "Die Arche". I wanted to create a place where children could find joy, hope, and someone who believes in them. Today, thousands of children have found a safe place in D"ie Arche" — a place where laughter is encouraged, where meals are shared, where friendships grow, and where futures are shaped with love, patience, and trust.
Many of the children who come to us face difficult environments and challenges that no one their age should have to carry. Yet again and again, we see hope flourish. Many of our teenagers now finish school successfully — not because life suddenly became easy, but because someone walked alongside them and believed in their potential.
This year, we celebrate 30 years of Die Arche — 30 years of building trust, offering stability, and giving children more than just a safe space: giving them a future.
But our work is not finished. Times are becoming harder. Many families are under greater pressure, and more children need support, encouragement, and a place to belong. We continue to rely on volunteers, donors, partners, and friends like you.
Together, we can continue to stand strong for the next 30 years.
Your ongoing support and your belief in our work mean more than words can express.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
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By Pastor Bernd Siggelkow | Founder & Director
By Pastor Bernd Siggelkow | Founder & Director
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