Stories from Villa Haar: Former home children remember

Stories from Villa Haar: Former home children remember

Weimar, Deutschland - In Weimar, a long-term project of the Dr. Georg Haar launched, which deals with the memories of the former children's home Villa Haar. This initiative aims to collect the stories of contemporary witnesses and publish it in a book. Above all, the narrative salons, which serve as a platform for the exchange between former residents, are particularly well received. "The opportunity to talk to each other and exchange ideas is an important experience for many alumni," says a project manager of the foundation. MDR reports that a valuable part of history is kept here.

The property on which the villa is standing was used in 1945 after the married hair's death. Children like Dieter Dörr and Klaus Dieter Gerlach were brought here for various reasons. Dörr spent eleven years in the home, while Gerlach was able to visit his mother regularly. These personal fates illustrate the different realities of life that the children experienced in the facility during their time.

positive experiences and harmonious atmosphere

Many of the contemporary witnesses report a harmonious atmosphere in the home. Leisure activities such as ballet, instrumental lessons and choral singing were offered and ensured that the children could develop creatively. Eva Koch in particular, another contemporary witness, remembers the support of loving supervisors. "We had a security that was not given in many other homes," said Koch. Despite the difficulties that can bring home education, many also find positive experiences and memories in their time.

The Dr. Georg Haar is also a recognized carrier of free child and youth welfare and active with around 80 young people in the region. In addition, it organizes traditional events such as the annual Christmas party and the summer festival for the foundation children, which are popular highlights in the calendar of the home, as on the website of the Villa Haar

A look at the history of home education

Home education in Germany has an eventful story that goes back to the Middle Ages. Especially the developments after World War II were characterized by controversial methods and often inhumane conditions. Since then, attempts have been made to improve the conditions again and again, but many institutions, including those such as Villa Haar, remained not entirely untouched by the shadows of the past. A report on Wikipedia that until the 1970s there were welfare education homes that were often under streamlining.

The current projects of the foundation, together with the planned future narrative salons, should not only preserve memories, but also lead to a better understanding of the challenges with which home children were confronted. The stories of the former residents are recorded to beat a bridge between the past and the present and to maintain the conversation about home education.

It remains exciting which other stories and memories will come together in the upcoming narrative salons. The initiative is an important step to process what you have experienced and preserve for future generations.