Diakonie Mitteldeutschland collects money for vacation programs

The Diakonie Mitteldeutschland wants to make a vacation offer for needy children possible with a fundraising campaign. "A vacation or vacation trip is one of the first things to be cut for cost reasons," said Diakonie board member Christoph Stolte on Friday. However, young people from financially strapped families in particular need their vacations to recharge their batteries and start the next school phase feeling rested. In Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, one in five children is considered poor.

The "Aktion Kindern Urlaub schenken" ("Campaign to give children a vacation") will support around 280 educational vacation activities for around 6,500 children and young people from low-income families in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, according to the statement. More than 300,000 euros are needed for this.

Many of the children in need are in socio-educational day groups or live in residential homes. Children from food bank projects and meeting places have also been added, especially in recent years. "We see the group trips primarily as an educational method," said Stolte. Traveling together strengthens groups, strengthens friendships, gives the children important experiences and helps them to build self-confidence and trust.