The flood disaster in the Ahr valley was more than half a year ago – and yet help is still needed. Two women from Pfaffenwiesbach are still involved with different campaigns.
Wehrheim-Pfaffenwiesbach. Since the flood disaster in the Ahr Valley in July last year, Karen Sander and Klaudia Skodnik from Pfaffenwiesbach have been regularly involved in various relief activities on site. While in the beginning the focus was on helping injured, homeless and traumatized animals (and their owners), the flood victims’ aid has now increasingly focused on children and families.
In December, for example, there was the »Wishing Tree Campaign«, where children were allowed to make a wish for Christmas (we reported). “It shocked us how many children wanted winter boots instead of toys,” Sander now explains to this newspaper. The woman from Pfaffenwiesbach then activated her private network and, together with Skodnik, collected donations for the purchase of winter shoes under the campaign name “Warm Children’s Feet”. Since Skodnik is chairwoman of the »Fortuna Helps« association, donation receipts might even be issued for this.
Around 550 pairs of winter boots collected and distributed
Around 550 pairs of new children’s winter boots might be purchased in this way and made for many happy faces, especially since the Christmas gift wishes might still be fulfilled. “Some of the families really lost everything in the summer and since then some have been out and regarding in their summer shoes,” according to the observation. To the delight of the two helpers, many donors donated scarves and hats in addition to the shoes. The women from Pfaffenwiesbach bring the sets of goods personally to the Ahr Valley in a van. »We always talk very carefully with the local coordinators so that we can get exactly what is really needed. It’s no use if relief supplies don’t meet actual needs,” says Skodnik.
The main focus here is the »ZuvAHRsicht« supply island with coordinator Natalie Reuscher. »The help is still urgently needed, because in the meantime some official supply stations have been dismantled once more. However, the infrastructure has not yet been properly restored, many families still do not have a car to get to the neighboring towns, to be able to do errands and the children sometimes have to walk a long (detour) way to school because there are no direct routes yet streets, bridges or sidewalks,« reports Sander regarding the difficulties on site.
Offer for a break at the Baltic Sea
It is heartwarming how much solidarity is still there. At the same time, it is frightening that scammers, gangs of thieves and other criminals are taking advantage of the emergency, the two women say. It is therefore important to organize and implement the relief efforts personally and on site in close contact with those affected, especially since support from the public sector has so far been very sparse and very bureaucratic. “The people who have lost everything, who have been mainly occupied with cleaning up in the last few months, who sometimes had to go into debt in order to be able to move forward and be able to handle the reconstruction, find it very difficult when they then also have to overcome such bureaucratic hurdles and are still waiting for the promised funds,” explains Skodnik. Many are therefore mentally “finished”.
Therefore, Sander and Skodnik are happy regarding the unbureaucratic offer of an owner of holiday apartments on the Baltic Sea, who would like to give the flood victims and helpers a break. Under this campaign name, 35 families and a few individuals have already been able to relax for a few days and recharge their batteries. However, many of those affected cannot afford this, even though the accommodation is free, because they do not have a car and cannot afford the money for the train, reports Skodnik.
Animals Support Help for Children with Trauma
In the meantime, it is becoming increasingly clear how much children in particular have suffered and how severely traumatized they are. That’s why Sander and Skodnik are now also supporting the new “Children’s Soul” campaign. This is where animal-assisted therapy with trained therapists and special therapy horses and dogs comes into play. Children between the ages of three and 18 are carefully accompanied over a long period of time in order to process the events.
The so-called “painting circus” also wants to support traumatized children in coming to terms with and coping with their experiences and give them space in the truest sense of the word to be able to creatively express their feelings and thoughts. Art teacher Steffi Raths has developed a concept for this and uses art therapy to help the children process their experiences with the flood and the continued destruction of the environment. “To get out of the feeling of helplessness and to come into the positive power of design,” Skodnik describes the approach of the therapy.
Painting therapy in an old circus wagon
The two ladies also support this project and have organized a ten meter long former circus wagon for it. This was brought to Ahrweiler with a low-loader and is now directly opposite the (school) bus stop, so that children from neighboring towns or following going to school can also benefit from the free offer. The interior of the car is currently being redesigned and comfortably furnished for the needs of children and art therapy. The campaign with the “Mal-Zirkus” was also suggested by the aid coordinator Reuscher. She is the ward manager of the trauma clinic – which was also destroyed – and is therefore the ideal contact person. Sander and Skodnik are happy regarding the help, which they now want to support further and in the long term and are collecting donations for this.
Potential supporters can register here
Anyone who would like to support the flood victims and/or the various relief efforts can contact Karen Sander and Klaudia Skodnik on Tel. 01 63-2 89 18 88 or by email at info@fortuna-hilft.de. Further information is also available on the Internet at www.fortuna-hilft.de.
Ingrid Schmah-Albert
