Learning from and with each other in Nature
Not far from the banks of the Rhine and the forest park, the Neckarau district is home to an inclusive nature kindergarten and the Zwischenraum project. The Mannheim-based association Lebensnahes Lernen aims to use this special area to empower children with personal challenges and young people in developmental crises, for whom access to regular educational institutions is often difficult. The AUFI, an inspiring play and adventure space in the middle of nature, encourages the youngsters' thirst for movement and action in an almost unlimited way. The Waldorf educational concept is complemented by a wide range of practical activities. In their own workshop, the girls and boys experience self-efficacy in manual and artistic interaction. Responsibility for the animals living on site - chickens, sheep and rabbits - as well as caring for the fruit and vegetable garden are also an integral part of the daily routine at the nature kindergarten, which the three to six-year-olds organize together with young people from the so-called Zwischenraum.
"We want to give children of different ages the opportunity to experience their environment up close, learn how to interact with animals and, above all, strengthen contact with other people," explains Gabriele Pohl, the association's educational director. She emphasizes how important such experiences are for building a healthy relationship with oneself and one's social environment: "Children need a stimulating environment that enables them to actively shape the world. After all, education is a holistic process in which one's own abilities and skills grow continuously."
To further expand the community project, three former allotment gardens were extensively renovated in 2022. In addition to climbing and play facilities, the "Future Workshop" now has two construction trailers as recreation areas and a modern dome building for parties and events of various kinds. The project to revitalize the social space was supported by the Software AG Foundation (SAGST), among others. Elke Rahmann, project manager at SAGST, emphasizes: "The association offers disadvantaged children and young people a protected place to develop, where their needs are taken into account and they receive sensitive support."
