Hope on four hooves

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Klaudia

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Mar 22, 2026

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Hope grows quietly. Sometimes on four hooves.

When the flood changed the Ahr valley, it left behind one thing above all: Uncertainty. Fear. Loss.

And many children whose world was suddenly no longer safe.

We have been offering animal-assisted therapy for many years.

But after the flood, it became an important anchor for many children.

One girl - we call her Mia - hardly spoke in the first few hours.

But she kept stroking the pony's coat carefully.

Week after week.

At some point, the first words came.

Then a smile.

Then courage again.

Animals do not rate.

You listen.

You stay.

Especially children in stressful life situations - whether due to natural disasters, family crises or other difficult experiences - find security and stability in their encounters with our therapy animals.

You learn,

better regulate their fears

Building trust

Experience self-efficacy

And above all:

to become more resilient.

develop everyday structures again.

find more stability in their daily lives.

The regular appointments, the responsibility for the animal, clear processes - all this provides support.

Chaos becomes structure and excessive demands become security.

Great things are also happening in our group programmes:

This is where community is created - children realise: I am not alone.

You learn:

to listen to each other

Express feelings

Resolving conflicts

Taking responsibility - for yourself and for the animal

Every day we see how sustainable this work is, how children grow and how uncertainty turns into confidence.

To ensure that we can continue to offer this valuable support - especially for children from the Ahr valley - we are launching our sponsorship for animal-assisted therapy at Easter.

With your sponsorship

you ensure the care of our therapy animals