Stralsund educator: This is how we fight for happy children!

Stralsund educator: This is how we fight for happy children!

In the Stralsund children's emergency service, educator Stephanie Kleist-Traulsen encounters the dark side of childhood every day. Since the service opened, she has looked after children who were taken into care by the youth welfare office, mostly due to neglect or abuse. It is your job to provide these children with safety and security. “They are doing well with us,” emphasizes Kleist-Traulsen and emphasizes how important shared meals and a regular daily routine are in times of uncertainty. Her experience, which she has gained over 16 years in various institutions, flows into this work.

The situation in Germany is alarming. According to estimates by the Child Protection Association, over 300,000 children are victims of sexual abuse, and between 250,000 and 500,000 children up to the age of six are affected by neglect, as the specialist articles from kindergartenpaedagogik.de report. Pedophilia and violence often remain hidden, which makes the work of specialists like Kleist-Traulsen all the more important. She knows that child endangerment occurs in different forms: neglect, physical and psychological abuse and sexual violence.

Intensive support for traumatized children

A look at the children's emergency service shows the variety of activities on offer. Excursions, games and creative projects are on the program to give the children joy and temporarily take them away from their stressful reality. In the entrance area of ​​the Rossmann branch in Stralsund there is a wish tree with 40 pieces of paper on which products that the children's emergency service urgently needs are noted. Branch manager Tom Schilling regrets the willingness of customers and tourists to donate to help improve the children's living conditions.

But the challenges are great. Kleist-Traulsen speaks openly about the emotional strain of her work, especially in cases like that of a sibling who came to the emergency room after being sexually abused. Such fates leave their mark and require not only professional expertise, but also a big heart. The educator mentions the need to maintain a professional distance while still building a close relationship with the children in order to gain trust.

Important legal framework conditions

According to SGB VIII, the youth welfare office has a clear mandate to protect children's well-being. Specialists like Kleist-Traulsen must document evidence of danger and inform the youth welfare office if necessary. The well-being of the child not only includes protection from physical and psychological dangers, but also the positive promotion of children's development. The state has the task of monitoring parental custody and can subsequently intervene if the child's well-being is at risk.

Reports of mistreatment of small children are unfortunately all too common, but it is the job of committed educators to give the affected children a voice and to support them with qualified offers of help. “We have a good knack for giving the children support,” says Kleist-Traulsen, speaking from the hearts of many of her colleagues.

The history of the Stralsund children's emergency service is powerful proof of how important the work of educators is. They are not only carers, but often also the last hope for children who have already been through far too much.