When a safe harbour remains

„Some time ago, I received a short message:

„Can I come the week after next?“

Not any more. Just these few words.

Written by a child who has not been in our settings for six months.

Normally I'm always happy when children just get in touch and want to come for a „visit“. This time there was something different between the lines. Everyday life had become too heavy again. Old issues had come up. Support was needed.

And this is precisely why long-term offers are so valuable.

We tell our children and young people again and again:

You are important to us. You can contact us at any time. This place remains your safe harbour.

It really touches me to see a child pluck up the courage and come forward on their own initiative. To be honest, not even many adults manage to do that - to admit that everything is just too much and help is needed.

Today I will give her a warm welcome. And tell her one thing above all: how powerful it is to be self-effective and get support.

As we sat together with our dog Hope and talked about the challenges of the last few weeks, the other children gradually came in.

One of them ran up to them with an outstretched index finger and said with mock indignation:

„And you ... have been away far too long!“

Everyone laughed.

And suddenly she was back in the thick of it.

Has been brought up to date.

Was part of the community.

You could really see the tension recede and the first glow return.

I particularly love my work on days like these.

Long-term offers mean reliability. Relationship. Security.

They mean: You may go - and you may come back.

And sometimes healing begins with just a short message:

„Can I come?“ -Heike Holtz

Thanks to Children's aid organisation Global-Care Foundation and Aktion Deutschland Hilft for your kind support.