As companions, we support children and young people, even in exceptional, extreme situations, and offer individual, case-by-case assistance as needed, including in the following areas:

• Support and accompaniment when dealing with authorities
• Accompanying you to appointments as emotional support
• Accompaniment during school and teacher meetings
• Accompaniment to doctor's visits
• Form help
• Support in finding an internship
• Application training
• u.v.m

Many children are left to fend for themselves from a very early age and often have to organize their daily lives alone, sometimes even for younger siblings. For a variety of reasons, these children rarely receive continuous and reliable support from their parents. This places great demands on them and places them in a situation where they must assume considerable responsibility at an early age. This often leads to overtaxing the children, which has a negative impact on their physical and mental health. Furthermore, the school performance of these children and adolescents also suffers from this situation, and social contacts often dwindle.

Since our "Butze" facility is already very familiar to many children and young people and provides them with a protected, safe environment, we want to counteract the above-described development and, if necessary, provide the children with trusted caregivers who can act as "companions." These people provide them with individual support in an increasingly complex world.

The low-threshold project "Wegbegleiter" (Companion) is an integral part of the services offered by Sozialwerk Vinnhorst eV (Social Work Vinnhorst Association) from Monday to Friday for children aged 6 to 18. The "Companions" act as confidants for the children and young people, are a listening ear for them and offer them help in problem or crisis situations. In addition, the young people are accompanied to appointments where they require support or emotional support. In line with the needs and interests of the children and young people, individual needs are specifically addressed. The "Companions" see themselves as a "link" between the child/young person and their parents and try to mediate and actively involve the parents in their work in order to achieve sustainability for the children and young people and provide long-term relief.

Since increasing child poverty also hinders cultural, social, and political participation, another focus of the project is the promotion of emotional and social skills. We aim to strengthen the children's existing skills and abilities. In these situations, the children and young people should be able to be children and use and enjoy their time exclusively for themselves, without having to take on responsibility for others. By experiencing a wide variety of everyday situations, we aim to identify and further develop and strengthen the children's empathy and resilience.

Project goals:

The project offers children and young people a place where they feel taken seriously and seen. In a safe environment, the children confide their wishes, worries, and fears to their "companions" and work together to develop individual strategies and solutions. Through simple language and communication, practical experimentation, and reliable caregivers, mutual exchange and shared learning processes are facilitated despite language barriers, providing a sense of security and safety.

The following goals are at the heart of our work:

• Child protection and well-being
• Equal opportunities for all children and young people
• Promoting and strengthening mental, spiritual and physical health
• Counteracting discrimination and neglect
• Promotion to strengthen self-efficacy
• Relationship work and the stimulation of educational processes
• Participation in social life

If you have any questions, requests, or need support, don't hesitate to get in touch.

Sozialwerk Vinnhorst eV "Wegbegleiter", Spierenweg 33, 30419 Hannover

Pedagogical Director: Laura Jagemann, Tel: 0177/ 8907004 or Email: laura.jagemann@sozialwerk-vinnhorst.com