Postcard campaign in Stendal: Together against loneliness!

Postcard campaign in Stendal: Together against loneliness!

In the city of Stendal, the “Write again” campaign is sending a clear message against the complex issue of loneliness. The aim of this initiative is to encourage people to make friends, relatives or neighbors happy with postcards. This idea is not only intended to warm hearts, but also to benefit the residents of nursing homes in Stendal, because designed postcards can be donated for them. The campaign is organized by the Altmark volunteer agency, the citizens' initiative and the Stendal multi-generational house. It is part of the nationwide week of civic engagement, as part of which a postcard-making campaign will also take place on Monday, September 22nd, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the “Small Market Hall”. This reports az-online.de.

But what is actually behind the loneliness that affects many people? A joint breakfast in the “Small Market Hall” with 15 participants marks the beginning of this week of action. Astrid Schulz, who is now retired after many years in the social service of a hospital, has been in impressive contact with many lonely people. She became aware again and again that loneliness is not just a feeling of being alone, but also includes emotional aspects. Schulz expresses that loneliness occurs in all age groups, but especially among older people, who often have difficulty talking about their feelings. It is all the more important to create events where people can come together to exchange ideas and network, as Ursula Breitenfeld did to the MDR has emphasized.

Loneliness as a social challenge

Loneliness is more than an individual feeling - it is a social problem that has many causes. It can lead to withdrawal from social relationships and thus to physical and mental illness. Lonely people participate less in social life, which can ultimately affect democratic participation. This is made clear by the Federal Agency for Civic Education in its article, which shows that loneliness is not only anchored in individual experience, but also in social structures. Loneliness can occur in different forms: emotional loneliness, social loneliness and collective loneliness are just a few examples that show that a lack of social connections and contact opportunities can lead to a gradual feeling of aloneness.

The action week in Stendal includes numerous activities to promote social exchange. In addition to walks, eating together and a trip to the Elbe, the program also includes a tour of Stendal Cathedral and writing letters together. Astrid Schulz and her colleague Karin Stövesand have made it their mission to organize numerous social activities in order to strengthen cooperation among citizens and to make the everyday lives of seniors and other affected people a little brighter.

Loneliness is a challenge that we should face together. Public spaces and opportunities also play a crucial role in enabling these valuable contacts to emerge. By bringing people together and actively exchanging ideas with their neighbors or friends, we help make loneliness visible and find solutions. With its action week and the “Write again” initiative, the city of Stendal shows how important it is to tackle things together and to live together instead of next to each other.