Stiftung Stern Donates €100,000 To “Die Arche” Children’s House

Stiftung Stern is supporting "Die Arche" e.V., an aid project for disadvantaged children and youth in Berlin with a €100,000 donation. Hans-Ulrich Jörges, deputy editor-in-chief of "Stern" magazine and head of the magazine’s Berlin bureau, presented the check to the project’s organizers in Berlin-Hellersdorf. "Die Arche" e.V. was founded in 1995 by Pastor Bernd Siggelkow to support the area’s children and teens from socially weak or difficult family backgrounds. The money for the project was collected in just two months, during which time "Stern" magazine also provided coverage of the project. "The ’Arche’ children’s house is an impressive project that should definitely be continued and should be emulated throughout the country," comments Hans-Ulrich Jörges. "Children and teens are the weakest links in our society– they need our special care and attention. Private initiatives like that of Bernd Siggelkow and his team are a wonderful example of how this can be achieved."

The "Arche" children’s house is housed in an old school building in Berlin-Hellersdorf. In 1995, Bernd Siggelkow and his wife began tending to socially disadvantaged children and teens from poor or problematic backgrounds in their own home. This included providing help with homework, regular meals, conversations, affection and attention. In 2001, the children’s house moved to the school building "Am Beerenpfuhl." Donations account for 95 percent of its funding. Other projects are already in the pipeline: Following the opening of a second children’s house in Berlin Friedrichshain, a similar house is now being planned in Hamburg.