Children's village director Raimundo Hillebrand visits Tegernsee - voluntary service starts again

Created: 05/24/2022, 02:00 p.m

By: Christina Jachert-Maier

Visit from the other end of the world: Raimundo Hillebrand (centre) and Julia Ortega with Walter Waldschütz.

Photo: tp © tp

The Pfarrer-Walter-Waldschütz-Foundation maintains a children's village in Argentina.

Children's village director Raimundo Hillebrand fought to ensure that children in need can be cared for professionally and lovingly.

He was now visiting Tegernsee.

Tegernsee -

There is a strong bond that connects Tegernsee's pastor Walter Waldschütz with the Argentinian Raimundo Hillebrand.

"A deep friendship that has never been disappointed," says the monsignor.

Hillebrand, now 72 years old, is director of the Hogar Jesus Nino Children's Village in Puerto Rico, which supports the Waldschütz Foundation.

35 children live there in four houses, looked after by children's village mothers. The fact that a small initiative founded more than 30 years ago could become a professional youth welfare facility is thanks to the cooperation of the sponsors from Germany and the Kolping Association in Argentina, to which Hillebrand belongs.

The Argentinian was visiting Tegernsee with his wife Julia Ortega these days.

Three new temporary missionaries

The reunion marks the end of a break due to Corona.

Because of the pandemic, the volunteer service “temporary missionaries (MAZ)” was not possible.

As reported, the Waldschütz Foundation had to bring five MAZ employees back home in 2020.

In September, Waldschütz will send out three new helpers.

It is two women, 23 and 21 years old, and a man (29).

All are employed and cannot take more than three months off.

"That's not a lot of time," Hillebrand knows.

Voluntary service usually lasts one year.

Now that long-term planning is possible again, applicants are getting ready to help out in the children's village for a whole year.

"The support is very important for us"

"The support is very important for us," says Hillebrand.

The young people do what the housemothers don't have time for: they accompany the children to sports, to music lessons, to dance, they just have fun with them.

Hillebrand has a big heart for children.

Pedagogy is not his profession.

He ran a bank for 30 years and also volunteered with the Kolping family.

He was at its head when an Argentine Father announced Waldschütz and Hillebrand in 1991.

The pastor from Germany agreed to support the children's village, which was a mini-initiative at the time.

Waldschütz quickly realized that he needed a children's village director who also had managerial qualities and the right contacts.

He offered Hillebrand the post.

"I told him that he would be a blessing for us," recalls Waldschütz.

Hillebrand agreed.

He gave up his job at the bank.

Network established during numerous visits

Hillebrand achieved what seemed unattainable in his homeland.

The children's village gradually received funds from the local government and set standards in the development of local youth welfare.

"He's a diplomat," says Waldschütz.

And he can count on strong support from Germany.

Waldschütz often traveled to Argentina with prominent political delegations, and Ilse Aigner was also there.

The interest made an impression on Argentine officials.

The MAZ service has also created many connections.

The children's village - the sponsor is Kolping - is now self-financing to a third. The Waldschütz Foundation takes care of the shortfall.

She can currently count on 203 permanent sponsors and a stable amount of donations.

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Even after retirement, Hillebrand is still the director of the children's village.

A deputy now takes care of the day-to-day things, he takes care of the finances.

He traveled to Lake Tegernsee with his wife Julia Ortega, President of the Argentine Kolping Society.

The two made a number of visits, including a meeting with the mission circle and the foundation board.

New house for young adults

It wasn't just about friendship.

The foundation will soon acquire an apartment building with four apartments near the children's village.

Young adults who grew up in the children's village should find a place to stay here if they need it.

An inheritance makes the purchase possible.

But the money transfer proved to be difficult.

With the help of the papal missionary work, the acquisition should now succeed.

Hillebrand is relieved: "We can't just send the children who grew up with us onto the street."