Kiju in Brandenburg: 30th birthday celebrations, but existence in danger!

Kiju in Brandenburg: 30th birthday celebrations, but existence in danger!

There is a place in Brandenburg an der Havel that has been accompanying and supporting countless children and young people for 30 years: the Kiju children's and youth leisure center in Hohenstücken. The institution, which was founded in the summer of 1995 by the Humanist Regional Association of Brandenburg/Belzig (HVB), is now celebrating this special anniversary. But the joy of this is clouded by worries about the Kiju's existence. Kiju director Axel Krause says that the facility is currently fighting massively for its future. The city plans to integrate Kiju into a new park district, which will be built from autumn 2028. In 2021, Mayor Steffen Scheller announced that Kiju would become part of this new district, but there is great uncertainty after two attempts to apply for federal funding for the urgently needed renovation amounting to around five million euros failed. This situation puts additional pressure on the facility, which is why Krause plans to take over the Kiju site on a leasehold basis in order to be able to apply for funding independently.

The reason for these concerns is not an isolated case: the city wants to make room for other projects in its budget planning, which has led to the rejection of Kiju funding. Axel Krause is aware that the discussions about the overall situation and the possible subsequent use of the current daycare building on Sophienstrasse are crucial. In January 2023 he received a call from social welfare officer Alexandra Adel about this. The uncertainty is noticeable for employees and users.

Take advantage of a variety of funding opportunities

Without a doubt, there are a variety of funding offers in Brandenburg that could also benefit Kiju. The LJR Brandenburg lists numerous foundations and programs that support projects in the areas of youth and social affairs: from the Citizens for Citizens Foundation, which supports projects for social cohesion, to Aktion Mensch, which supports inclusive projects. Funding of up to 200,000 euros could be applied for from the German Youth Brand Foundation for innovative projects. Such funds would be particularly welcome in times of financial bottlenecks.

Finding potential financial backers could be crucial for the Kiju. The possibility of turning not only to public funds but also to private foundations offers hope. Future projects could be specifically developed and promoted before the city takes its planning steps in the park district.

Review of projects & application deadlines

When applying for funding, it is important to plan the projects well. According to that Brandenburg Action Alliance Projects should be conceptually completed and limited in time. Furthermore, splitting up projects and looking for start-up financing makes it easier to approve such funds. Careful planning would be essential, especially for Kiju, in order to find the right grants from the multitude of offers and apply for them on time.

Kiju's upcoming birthday party on Thursday at 5 p.m. could be a good opportunity to make both the local community and possible sponsors aware of the cause. The main aim here will be to set an example and recognize the institution's valuable contribution to children and young people, and perhaps even to win new supporters. The challenges are great, but with a fresh 30th anniversary and community support, the tide may soon be changing for the Kiju. We can only hope that the team will succeed in securing and shaping the future of the Kiju with creative ideas and a courageous approach to potential donors.