The giant soap bubble station was well received by the children at the open day in the multi-generational house in Taufkirchen. © Fabian Holzner
The open day in the multi-generational house in Taufkirchen was gladly accepted. Many got an idea of the homeland for young and old.
Taufkirchen – Katharina Gaigl, deputy head of the multi-generational house (MGH), attested to the daycare parents' council as having a "great idea". At his suggestion, the institution, which has been in existence for almost 20 years, also with the help of the Förderverein, organized an open day, which met with great interest.
"We want to give the population the opportunity to find out about our counselling and support services in a direct exchange. From daycare and student care to the senior citizens' advisory board and dementia care: The name multi-generational house really says it all," explained Julian Holzner, head of the daycare center.
With coffee and cake, face painting, a giant soap bubble station, a flea market and small, low-threshold activities, young and old presented themselves and conveyed how much life there is in the MGH, which is supported by Caritas.
"The philosophy that is realized with the multi-generational house is, of course, older than the institution itself," recalled Franz Hofstetter, godfather of the MGH, chairman of the association and pioneer as mayor in the early 2000s. At the right time, the right people came together to pick up on two developments that emerged in the 90s. On the one hand, teachers had given rise to the impetus for more social work for their students, which they could no longer do themselves. On the other hand, it was also noticeable in Taufkirchen that children were often left unlooked after in the afternoons. "There were children who didn't get lunch. Maria Neuber was then one of the people who took the initiative and cooked at the school. The support then came on its own," Hofstetter recalled.
The space available for care organized by the community was limited, and so the multi-generational house was finally built. Seniors' meetings, the international parent-child group, the workshop café, the tea room to support refugees in dealing with the authorities, the exchange ring, reading sponsorships, a Veeh harp group, the inclusion group "Motley Families" and many counselling services now have their home in the building, Claudia Buchberger, head of the MGH, lists.
500 people come and go every day, because there are 75 pupils in addition to 300 daycare places, and a total of 50 employees and 50 volunteers look after the children. "The right to all-day care has been a reality in the municipality of Taufkirchen for years without any legal obligation. If a child needs afternoon care today, we can do it with after-school care, lunchtime care or all-day classes. Every child is accommodated," says Buchberger.
The many encounters made possible by the MGH were exemplary at the open day. In addition to the many familiar faces, there were also new ones. An 80-year-old woman from Taufkirchen, for example, confessed in conversation with Katharina Gaigl that, although she was aware of what the house had to offer, she visited the rooms for the first time and witnessed the hustle and bustle. (Fabian Holzner)
