GERMANY Honour related problems, domestic violence, drugs or crime. These are all reasons as to why teenage girls in crisis could need a new home. With support from Childhood, the German organisation Wildwasser recently opened a home for girls at risk in Berlin.

Nine girls between 12 and 18 years will be able to stay at the Wildwasser house, which was opened last March. So far, four girls have moved in to the newly renovated building in the Wedding district of Berlin. The rooms are big and airy with beautiful wooden floors. This is a place where the girls who are moving in will have their own space, as well as a place where they receive support and help to handle difficult situations. At the same time, living with other girls makes them develop.

– The girls that come to us are unable to stay with their families for different reasons. They may have been beaten or sexually abused, threatened by forced marriage or involved in criminal activities. Some girls used to live on the street, or others worked as prostitutes, says manager Iris Hölling.

A LONG-TERM SOLUTION

For several years, Wildwasser has been running a drop-in centre for girls in crisis, where they can stay until a longer-term solution is provided for them. Sometimes the girl returns home but sometimes that is not a viable solution.

– Quite often the parents say they can''t handle having their daughter at home. Or they might have problems to deal with on their own, says Iris Hölling.

To be able to offer a solution for girls who can''t return home, Wildwasser opened the youth home Donya. Childhood has been financing the crisis centre for several years, and is contributing financial support covering a major part of the new home as well. A number of pedagogues and social workers, a psychologist and a cook are funded by Childhood. Wildwasser also receives support for renovations, rent, trainings for the staff and interpreters. Hopefully in the future, the city of Berlin will take over the financing of the centre.

OPEN FOR ALL

An important part of the Wildwasser concept is its intercultural perspective. Several of the girls seeking help come from migrant families, with problems related to their parent''s expectations on how girls should lead their lives.

– We have a Turkish girl living here who wants to move home again but her parents won''t take her back. They claim she has been violating their honour, Iris Hölling says.

But it might just as well be German girls having problems, she points out. Another girl at Donya was being beaten by her mother, and the father, who was living with a new family, didn''t want to take care of his older daughter.

The staff at Wildwasser comes from several different cultures, and their language skills and experiences are important while working with the girls and their parents. The staff become role models for the girls, while parents feel more confident knowing that the staff has knowledge of the cultural background of the family.

– It''s extremely important to work with the whole family. We counsel both girls and parents, and they get support from out psychologist. We try to investigate what part parents are playing in their daughter''s life. They very often have big problems themselves and need support and empowerment in trying to be better parents, Iris Hölling says.

Text: Maja Svenonius

PHOTOS:

At the top: The Wildwasser house for girls at risk is situated in Wedding, Berlin.

In the middle: Iris Hölling, director of Wildwasser.

Onthe bottom: One of the rooms at Donya.