Kibos closure in Löbtau: Parents fight for the meeting point for children!

Kibos closure in Löbtau: Parents fight for the meeting point for children!

Bonhoefferplatz, 01159 Dresden, Deutschland - The Kiboo Kibo children's meeting at Bonhoefferplatz in Dresden-Löbtau is about to close. The city has guaranteed funding of around 135,000 euros for 2023, but this support is to be discontinued at the end of 2024. On June 5, 2025, the youth welfare committee will decide whether the promotion of the Kibo, the youth club Check Out in Niedersedlitz and the Alten Fire Brigade Children's and Youth Center in Cossebaude will continue. The decision to delete Kibo funding is justified by the city on the grounds that the meeting is "most likely to compensate for infrastructure".

Jenny Uschkrath, mother of two Kibo visitors, expresses her great despair about the impending closure. "The Kibo not only offers childcare, but also parent breakfasts and support for parents," she emphasizes. In the past, over 1,500 people have signed an online petition that is directed against the closure and is addressed directly to the child and youth welfare committee and the mayor. The petition calls for the withdrawal of the planned closure and securing the continued existence of the Kibo.

an important place for children and families

kibo is described as an important second home for over 30 children in Löbtau. The activities in the Kibo are diverse: playing, tinkering, cooking, learning as well as support and listening are central aspects of the offer. The supervisors: Inside, they play a crucial role by offering support for children and their families. The Kibo for children who experience little support at home is particularly important. Here, educational specialists, interns and volunteers promote social skills, creativity and a sense of community.

The closure of the Kibo would mean the loss of a safe place for many children. "Parents can exchange and network with parent coffee. This is how the community is strengthened," explains Uschkrath, who sees the accessibility of the institutions proposed as alternatives.

urban savings plans and their effects

This discussion about the closure of the Kibo is part of a major problem in the city of Dresden, where numerous social institutions are faced with an uncertain future due to a economy course of the city. The planned cuts affect not only the Kibo, but also other important social institutions such as the Father Center "Papaseiten.de" in Löbtau and the Medea women's and girls' health center in Johannstadt, which are also threatened by closures. Anne Pötzsch from the "Alliance for Reductions Dresden" emphasizes that these cuts will affect the entire urban society, in particular disadvantaged groups.

In response to the cut-off plans, over 10,000 people took part in an e-petition that protests against the planned savings. Protest actions and demonstrations have been announced in the coming days in which the citizens want to point out the need and importance of social institutions in their city.

Overall, it can be seen that the Kibo and other social institutions not only create offers, but also contribute to the stability of families and communities in the long term. The upcoming decisions in the youth welfare committee on June 5 could have far -reaching consequences for the social landscape in Dresden.