Wiesbaden: Early childhood education in the daycare center
In 1973, volunteers founded the Terre des Hommes daycare center in the Bergkirchen district of Wiesbaden, marking the first Terre des Hommes project in Germany. In 2002, the project became the non-profit organization "XENIA".
“We embrace linguistic diversity,” says Dagmar Hansen, the managing director of XENIA. Many staff members come from different cultural backgrounds and speak several languages. They playfully promote the children's language development, for example, through arts and crafts, storytelling, or outings. Reading aloud in languages like Ukrainian or Turkish is also a regular part of the program. The cultural diversity of the children and their families is particularly evident in singing, eating, and celebrating. “Here, we eat Arabic food or dance Greek dances. All the families participate,” explains Dagmar Hansen.
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Children from very different social and cultural backgrounds attend the facility. Many people in the neighborhood rely on social welfare and affordable housing. Not only families with a migration background, but also German families experience disadvantages due to their social origin. XENIA aims to improve the future prospects of these children. Therefore, an intercultural approach was pursued from the very beginning.
“The children are deeply valued here, and we hope they retain this appreciation even after their time with us,” explains Dagmar Hansen. The children also receive affirmation at the regular children's conferences. Here, the daycare management meets with the preschoolers to discuss everyday topics such as how to handle toys or upcoming renovations. The children see that their opinions matter and are heard. More abstract topics are also discussed – for example, children's rights. The director is certain: “Even if they don't understand everything yet, the children learn early on that they have rights.”
Parents can connect and receive support at the "Children and Parents Center." The literacy service provided by XENIA volunteers assists with communication with authorities, such as filling out applications. "We also offer this service to families whose children are not enrolled in our facilities," says Dagmar Hansen.
XENIA's services are a well-established institution in the Bergkirchen district. As Dagmar Hansen summarizes, "It's unimaginable that XENIA would no longer exist in the neighborhood. So much would be lost."