Animal-assisted therapy

We help traumatised children in order to strengthen them and help them in the long term.

Make children's hearts light up!

Making children's hearts light up

Not only were homes and livelihoods destroyed in the floods of the Ahr valley, but countless children's souls were also deeply wounded. Over 3,000 traumatised children are receiving effective support and strengthening through animal-assisted therapy.

Heike Holtz and her team accompany the children in overcoming their fears. Animals are an important partner in this process, especially for children with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Why help is so important

On the devastating night of the flood, some of the children were forced to watch helplessly as their family members were swept away by the floodwaters. Filled with mortal fear, they remained on the rooftops while the stars in the sky were their only light on this dark night.

The parents' fears and traumatic experiences had serious consequences in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder. The children would not even let their own parents hug them, crawled under the table in panic when it rained, always carried their favourite things in their rucksacks to avoid further loss, suffered from severe fear of loss, had difficulty concentrating at school and developed behavioural problems and even eating disorders.

The profound impact of these traumatic events is real and shapes the lives of these children. Our work aims to empower these children and offer support on their path to recovery.

Support a child with your donation

What is animal-assisted therapy?

Animal-assisted therapy is characterised by the special connection between the traumatised children and the animals. Animals intuitively sense the children's emotions; they are impartial, patient and always present. This unique relationship not only provides the children with emotional support, but also strengthens their cognitive skills. By interacting with the animals, the children learn responsibility and mindfulness, which contributes to their long-term positive development.

What is the effect of animal-assisted therapy?

Animal-assisted therapy offers traumatised children emotional support and enables them to overcome fears, reduce stress and strengthen their self-confidence. The presence of animals creates a calming and safe environment in which the children can heal.

Why is it so particularly successful and effective?

Animal-assisted therapy is particularly successful because animals have a unique ability to connect with children in a way that goes beyond words. The unconditional love and understanding of an animal can help to process traumatic experiences and promote emotional healing.