Photo: C. Fischer

The daily life of families with children living in Roter Berg - an economically disadvantaged area of Erfurt, Germany - is often characterized by unemployment, drug problems, and parenting conflicts. For families in crisis, the ANDERS center offers an important point of connection and support.

Among the initiative’s aims are providing counselling for family problems and strengthening the sense of social cohesion in the neighborhood. As founding member Michael Flügge says, “We want to work together with help-seeking individuals to find a way to add stability and new perspectives to their lives. First and foremost, we want to help families; that way, we can provide their children with a strong start for the future.”

A weekly meeting for parents provides help and practical suggestions to support parents in strengthening their parenting skills and is a central part of the organization’s work. And offering enriching free-time activities for neighborhood children can have a positive influence that should not be underestimated, notes Flügge: “These provide an important alternative in everyday life, for example when a family does not have the time or money to do activities together.” The “Playmobile,” a play center on wheels for neighborhood children, plays an especially important role as a low-threshold entry point for children and parents. “The children meet at the playmobile to have fun together,” explains Flügge, “and the parents come into contact with us and our counselling services.”