History

40 Years of Helferkreis für Mutter und Kind e.V.

In September 2024, Helferkreis celebrated its 40th anniversary with a charity concert -

Mayor Martin Horn also conveyed his best wishes.

35 Years of the Helpers' Circle for Mothers and Children e.V.

We thank ...

• the active members who, trained by professionals, dedicate their time and skills to mothers and children in need.
• the club members, supporters, and donors.
• the advisory board made up of competent individuals who support the executive committee.

Hildegard Büchner is awarded the Federal Cross of Merit for her many years of commitment to the Association of the Helpers' Circle for Mother and Child e.V.

Hildegard Büchner is honoured for her voluntary commitment, having served as the chairwoman of the association for 12 years. 

After 30 years of existence, the association had to once again adapt to the social conditions. Significant changes characterised this year. We launched with a large parade and a revised concept in new premises, featuring a greatly expanded clothing bank.

A large clothing bank (Badische Zeitung article) 

The 25th anniversary was an occasion to honour the work of the support group for mothers and children.

Opening of the „House of Life“, supported living for mothers and children, in cooperation with the Franciscan Sisters of Gengenbach and under the auspices of the Catholic Parish Council.      

The Moses Project was launched - anonymous counselling, support and birth - in cooperation with the Diaconal Work Freiburg, St. Joseph's Hospital and the Evangelical Diaconal Hospital. The Ministry of Family has adopted this initiative under the name "Confidential Birth" nationwide in 2014.

the "Kindernest" was established as a daycare centre for 1 to 3-year-olds, to enable young mothers to complete their education or undergo training. In 2006, it was integrated into the House of Life.

in 1987, the association was awarded as the main prize winner of the Municipal Citizen Action of Baden-Württemberg. From 1987 to 2014, the focus of the association was on the provision of housing. 

In 1984, the support group for mothers and children (until 2009, the support group for expectant mothers in distress) was founded by dedicated citizens led by Ms. Mechtild Herder.

The founding members aimed to support pregnant women and mothers with small children in crisis situations through material and personal assistance. Already in the first few years, it became evident how much the services of the support group were needed: baby supplies, material donations, financial assistance, housing mediation, and personal support for the women. 

It was the high number of abortions, coupled with seemingly insurmountable pregnancy conflicts faced by these expectant mothers, that deeply moved me as well. Thanks to the compassionate and proactive initiative of Mrs Mechtild Herder, I was afforded the opportunity to contribute to the establishment and continuous development of the "Support Circle for Expectant Mothers in Distress e.V." from the very beginning. This challenge brings me motivation, joy, and gratitude all at once.

Focused on the needs and problems of the (expectant) mothers and their (unborn) children, and thanks to the support of our donors, the scope of assistance provided by the support circle expanded. Accordingly, we were able to offer diverse support to the mothers we accompanied. The personal guidance of a mother, being able to show her options for a path with her child, and also being there for her after the birth, to the extent she needed, meant more to me than just a meaningful task. At the same time, it was a gift. I experienced this as a blessing and a great enrichment for my own life.

Very important for our support work as voluntary helpers were the regular exchanges of experiences and meetings on specific topics with professional experts from the SKF and the Diaconate, as well as the training sessions with Professor H. Pompey, which expanded our specific knowledge and provided the necessary confidence during the support process.

Over the years, through our shared work with a Christian orientation, a friendship-based community grew - still today. For me, the years spent working in the support circle were a good and fulfilling time in my life.

Freiburg, May 2015
Sissi Heid

Twenty-eight years ago, when my family situation allowed me to choose a new path, I came into contact with the "Helper Circle for Expectant Mothers in Distress e.V." Supporting young women with children seemed to me to be a positive activity, one for which I was prepared through my own family experience.

It quickly became clear that many new experiences awaited:

• there were colleagues of a similar age,
• there were young women in challenging life situations,
• there were many small children at the beginning of very uncertain lives

The challenge posed by this voluntary work captivated and sustained me. The diverse problems that needed solving kept me agile and fostered lasting friendships.

I would not want to miss the 28 years of voluntary work, even though they were filled with all variations of life!

Freiburg November 2014
Hildegard Büchner

Well - I have now been working for nearly 30 years as a medical advisor and in gynaecology, as well as obstetrics, at the St. Elisabeth Hospital in Freiburg, and am actively involved in the board of the support group for mothers in distress.

Why have I persevered for so long, you ask? There are many things in life that are worth engaging in. Professional work and family are, of course, very important, but the voluntary, social, interpersonal aspects, contributing time, expertise, knowledge, and creative energy - that is truly enjoyable!

Thus, the support group is truly not the only organisation that fascinates me. However, here my commitment to doing something good for young expectant mothers and those who are already multiple parents in need through various types of assistance is among the most beautiful things in the world. The abundance of positive experiences that comes back is so rewarding that one gladly contributes. I will just mention (even though not all experiences are successful) that a happy mother, whom we were able to assist with housing, help with authorities, financial support, and conversations to successfully continue her life with a child, has consistently reinforced our efforts with her gratitude.

Thus, I look back with joy and gratitude on the years that have passed, as I have also been fortunate to experience many wonderful things myself.

Freiburg, March 2014   Dr. med. Wolf-Dietrich Kloke, Gynaecologist