Salem Children's Week: Laugh, Play, Breathe a Sigh of Relief

Preparations began in autumn 2024: Five sixth form students, supported by Altsalemers Anna Soiné and Luisa Matz and mentor Moira Hieber, planned a week for children growing up at home with illness, unstable circumstances or financial worries. During the Whitsun holidays, the time had come: seven children aged between seven and ten came to Schloss Salem via Diakonie and experienced days full of play, closeness and carefree moments.

Siaony, Ljian, Klara, Franka and Christian were in charge of everything from organising the programme to preparing the food and looking after the children. They played, did handicrafts, listened, comforted - and laughed a lot with the children. A special day was the trip to the Reutemühle, where the children were able to pet and feed animals - some of them for the first time - and the visit to the Affenberg. The highlight was the self-built water slide in the castle garden, which brought smiles to everyone's faces before the day ended with a barbecue and baking bread on a stick around the campfire.

Even small moments became memories: painting T-shirts, a treasure hunt or breakfast in the morning sun. It was an exhausting but enriching week for the team. They experienced how quickly children blossom when you give them time and sincere attention - and that you don't need a big stage to make a difference.