Germany
Family centre helps children in Dortmund

Around 12,900
people registered

57 out of every 100 children
in the district receive state benefits to ensure they have the means to live

Around 5,520 people
(42.8 percent) who receive welfare benefits

75 out of every 100 people registered
do not have a German passport

In Dortmund, we provide aid in these areas:

Germany
Family centre helps children in Dortmund

Around 12,900
people registered

57 out of every 100 children
in the district receive state benefits to ensure they have the means to live

Around 5,520 people
(42.8 percent) who receive welfare benefits

75 out of every 100 people registered
do not have a German passport

In Dortmund, we provide aid in these areas:

Tense living conditions in Dortmund – wortundtat helps children and parents

In the Borsigplatz district of Dortmund where the Star in the North is located, many families are living in difficult conditions. Parents have no work. Children cannot speak German properly. The families are still a little lost in German society or are financially dependent on state benefits.

Our partner in Dortmund:
Stern im Norden e.V.

We support these services:
• Children’s and teenagers’ centre
• Services for women

The Star in the North responds to people’s needs and supports families in many ways

The services offered by the wortundtat partner Star in the North are aimed at these people. In a large community centre with plenty of open space, children have room to play and let off steam and receive support, loving care and attention. Teenagers meet for shared activities, creative or sporting pursuits or other joint hobbies. Parents find people to talk to about problems in coping with everyday life and have opportunities to chat.

In large, welcoming rooms, children aged 6 to 11 find, in the children’s club, that they are welcomed and valued. Apart from a free lunch and help with homework, there is still time for them to play together, attend cooking and baking courses, do exercises and just let off steam. Children can enjoy making music on home-made instruments. If necessary, individual support can also be provided now and again – for learning German, for example.

A meeting point for mothers – get advice, chat, relax

Several times a week, mothers with children below the age of six can bring them to play in the Star and enjoy the women’s café here. While the youngsters play, the women can chat with each other or talk to the helpers. Many of the guests are please to be helped with visits to authorities, filling in applications for various departments or finding schools, doctors or other contact points. There are often more complex matters to discuss, when the staff can provide explanations and support.

Women sitting at an outdoor table next to a sandbox - helping in Germany

Female helpers advise women living in the quarter and support them with visits to authorities.

[borlabs-cookie id="youtube" type="content-blocker"][/borlabs-cookie]

“Christmas in the Star in the North”

The weather was cold and miserable just before Christmas. But this didn’t deter the children from coming to the Christmas party.

More than a place for children to play and be safe:
Christian faith is discussed

In addition to looking after, caring for and supporting young people and adults from the district, the volunteers and employed staff have another concern: They want the visitors who find their way to the centre to feel that they are important and loved – just as God has made them. To the helpers, it is important that the children are provided with help with life’s ongoing practical challenges and understand a little about the Christian foundation that motivates the helpers.

The children and young people who would like to learn more about this motivation can attend events at which Bible stories are told or sometimes acted out in ways suitable for their age.

Children in a hall singing and dancing to a movement song - helping children in Germany

K-Kids Go ist ein Angebot, bei dem Kinder die Möglichkeit haben, mehr über den christlichen Glauben zu erfahren. Sie hören Bibelgeschichten, singen gemeinsam Lieder und spielen.

Visitors feel that they are important and loved – just as God has made them.

Space for lots of groups

Above and beyond its own services, the Star in the North offers a wide range of groups from the district and the city opportunities to run their own events: A football fan club meets regularly in the premises, for example, a choir rehearses in the large hall and people meet to “pray around the clock” in a prayer room.

Außenansicht des Stern im Norden - dreistöckiges großes Gebäude - Hier können wir Kindern in Deutschland helfen

The Star in the North is a large community centre in the Borsigplatz quarter of Dortmund.

Dortmund – Further impressions

News from the Star in the North