Several new "mud tables" have recently been installed in the outdoor area of the daycare centre of the Protestant Andreasgemeinde in Giessen - built and financed by Stadtwerke Giessen.
Many parents search for a long time - some even in vain - for daily childcare for their children under the age of three. This is the reason why the day care centre (Kita) of the Evengelische Andreasgemeinde has expanded its services and converted the former sexton's flat on Eichendorfring. A total of almost 100 girls and boys attend the daycare centre. 14 employees look after the little ones every day until 5 p.m. - and since 15 January, children from the age of ten months have also been able to attend. "The working mothers and fathers - some of whom are single parents and single earners - are happy about the new toddler group," emphasises daycare centre manager Nathalie Mussner and is delighted that everything has worked so well right from the start. Deputy daycare centre manager Anke Schimanski assures: "Every minute of work and every euro invested has paid off."
Mud table makes children's hearts beat faster
However, due to the conversion and extension costs for the new rooms, not every wish could be fulfilled - for example, when it came to modernising the outdoor area. Until recently, there was an old mud table on which the girls and boys could play with water and sand. "Together with the water pump, it was a real attraction for the little ones," emphasises Nathalie Mussner. As the play equipment was past its best, it urgently needed to be replaced, but there were not enough funds to do so. Klaus Langer, an employee of Stadtwerke Gießen (SWG) in the Information Technologies department, heard about this. His three-year-old daughter has been attending the Andreasgemeinde daycare centre since February 2012 and he himself is a member of the parents' council. "It occurred to me that we could definitely help and lend a hand," explains Klaus Langer. And that's exactly what happened. The technical services department at SWG - master carpenter Andreas Aust to be precise - built a new mud facility consisting of several tables of different heights. Klaus Langer then varnished the wood and oiled the legs. "I'm delighted that we were able to help the daycare centre together with one of the 75 good deeds," says the SWG employee. On Friday 20 September, he presented Nathalie Mussner and Anke Schimanski with the new mud facility and a symbolic donation cheque: "A great support that will benefit the girls and boys. They will be thrilled," Nathalie Mussner is certain. However, it will be a little while before the children can get their hands dirty in the wet sand again. This is because the subfloor has to be renewed first. "The little ones will have to be patient until then," said Anke Schimanski.