Disability Rights Germany Project #29701

Supporting Families with Disabled Children

by Hande fur Kinder e. V.

Project Report | Jun 16, 2020
Corona, the new bad c-word

By Andrea Fleischmann | Project Leader

Teddy Fiete is happy to have playmates again

Corona and Covid 19 appear to become new bad c-words. Because they also mean, inter alia, travel ban, distance rules, face masks, hygiene regulations and closures. Of course, the Kupferhof was and is affected.

We used the temporary closure to do necessary (renovation) work and repair in the house and in the garden, as well as to develop a good hygiene concept. Nevertheless, the Kupferhof was more like a haunted house in comparison with normal operation. Only a few employees worked at the same time, but above all no child laughing or shouting, no parents who settled down for a chat somewhere or siblings playing. But we didn't and won´t let it get us down and thanks to a good hygiene concept we have had up to 8 guest children in the house again for 5 weeks. A great start. With a great concept. With and for our great, special children.

Life has returned to the Kupferhof: singing, laughing, playing, making music, baking, fooling around, painting ... again. Yes, the Kupferhof is alive again! With, in and through our guest children.

We hope to be able to welcome parents and siblings to the Kupferhof again in August.

If you consider the burden the LockDown (closure of schools and day-care centers, home offices, etc ...) was for "normal" families. Can you imagine what that means for families with a disabled child? No relief, at no time. Instead, 24 hours on standby and commitment. And that 7 days a week.

We are therefore fighting for the Kupferhof to be able to open to the whole family again soon. We are not alone in this. It feels like in a huge extended family: Friends and our (former) host families also support us, send us happy pictures, write encouraging messages and initiate great fundraisers, be it through birthday fundraisers or even a donation bike tour across Germany.

At this point, a big thank you for these great supports.

We are confident and looking forward to offer as many families as possible a few days off at Kupferhof. Some relief from hard everyday life, which these families need now more than ever.

Stay healthy and warmest regards from the Kupferhof.

Our nerves are on edge and there is no ray of hope

(Hopefully we can make up for our cancelled stay.

(Maja is still raving about her stay. Whenever...

Maja making ice cream

Anton and the Very Hungry Caterpillar

Permalink

Feb 18, 2020
Kupferhof on Tour

By Andrea Fleischmann | Project Leader

Nov 13, 2019
The New Kupferhof - The One and Only

By Andrea Fleischmann | Project Leader

The Neue Kupferhof is a very special place and is unique in many ways.

This is confirmed by the comments of some of our nurses on the question of why they work in the Neue Kupferhof or what constitutes the work in the Neue Kupferhof.

Michaela

I find it nice to be able to support the parents of our guest children with special needs, so that they can take a breather and recharge their batteries. Here, I can satisfy the basic needs of the children and get a lot back in return, such as the gratitude of the parents, the parent´s joy of seeing us again, and also of the guest children, especially if they have been guests at the Kupferhof several times.

I am fascinated by the non-verbal communication with the children with special needs, which we use in order to recognise and interpret their requests and basic needs. I enjoy using and perfecting this ability every day.

For all that, I do like to take a long journey to work. My journey to work and back is 76 kilometres [47 miles] each way.

Jule

I find the work here in the Neue Kupferhof more meaningful than, for example, in hospitals, because there is much more time here to apply what you have learned.

Alina

Here at Neue Kupferhof, you are much closer to the patients and their families, and the contact is much closer.

Jana

(still in training to become a nurse)

I chose the Neue Kupferhof for my student assignment because the concept of the Kupferhof appealed to me. I have learned a lot here.

Leonie

Here, at the Neue Kupferhof we usually have, depending on the disability of the guest child, care in a ratio of 2:1. This gives you a lot of time for the child entrusted to your care. It is not the "full and clean" - principle which applies, but that you have time to play and time to do things, so that the individual child has fun.

Birgit

I find it fantastic working with these special children.

No differences are made here between the different illnesses of the guest children: they all have the same value.

It is possible to respond very individually to the child that you care for here.

Feli

The Neue Kupferhof is a unique place where you can help our guest children with special needs to have a good time, as well as their parents and siblings.

Here, you are surrounded by many nice people, guests and colleagues.

I appreciate the constant challenge of looking after new guest children. No week is like the other. And that's great!

Dirk

A good atmosphere, warm-heartedness, openness, appreciation, acceptance from each other, freedom from being judged by others ... These are keywords which I associate with the Neue Kupferhof and which make up this unique place.

The fantastic location of the facility in the middle of the countryside makes it possible to go outside with the children who have special needs at any time, to have fun outside with the children and colleagues.

Every day you learn new things, with each other and from each other.

You can feel the harmony in this house. A harmony that is radiated by all who enter and leave here.

I am very grateful to be able to take part here.

Permalink

‹ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ›

About Project Reports

Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.

If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.