Big hearts: Wain donates to the Bad Grönenbach children's hospice!

Big hearts: Wain donates to the Bad Grönenbach children's hospice!

On Saturday, April 13th, there was a moving occasion at the Bad Grönenbach children's hospice: the Wain bazaar team handed over a generous donation, which was gratefully accepted by a hospice volunteer. Such donations are essential for the children's hospice, as it relies heavily on private support due to the limited state funding. The facility not only offers a safe haven for sick children, but also supports their parents and siblings for up to a year after the loss of a child.

But what exactly does a children's hospice do? It serves as a contact point for families who are confronted with a diagnosis and supports them over a longer period of time. This support often lasts for years and gives families valuable quality of life in difficult times. The hospice also organizes holiday camps that give families the opportunity to spend a few carefree days while being supported by experienced volunteers.

Volunteer work in the children's hospice

Working in a children's hospice requires special qualities. Volunteers should have empathy, flexibility and openness. This is also described by Barbara Weiland, who emphasizes the importance of a stable environment for families. Voluntary support can not only relieve the burden on the children, but also on their relatives. The commitment should not be used as an opportunity to cope with your own grief, but rather as a help that can bring about real change.

How do you become a volunteer in a children's hospice? First of all, you need to take part in a free preparation course, which is financed by health insurance companies and donations. The course also covers topics such as phases of mourning and dying and prepares the volunteers intensively for their tasks. As a rule, the helpers spend two to three hours a week with the sick children and their families, whether playing, reading to them or taking walks together.

Diverse support from volunteers

In addition to family support, sibling support also plays a crucial role. Siblings of sick children also need support, and this is where volunteers come in, offering trips to the cinema, ice cream or creative activities such as crafts and football. For the children, this type of support is a valuable distraction that helps them develop resilience.

Volunteers are also involved in public relations and fundraising to generate necessary funds for the hospice services. Collaboration and exchange with each other helps volunteers to share their experiences and support each other. Regular meetings and training also promote the personal and professional development of each individual.

In conclusion, it can be said that working in a children's hospice is not only of great importance for the families affected, but can also represent immense enrichment for the volunteers themselves. It takes courage, humility and joy of life to overcome the challenges in this sensitive environment.