30 years "Family Center Noah's Ark" in Penzberg, Germany

On May 19, the Adventist Family Center Noah's Ark (FAN) in Penzberg celebrated its 30th anniversary with representatives from politics, co-operating partners, former clients and parents. The FAN serves as a professional companion for families – from birth until maturity. It combines various support services for families under one roof.
In her welcoming speech, Annelies Plep, founder and head of the facility, pointed out that the basic idea is a holistic education with Christian values, so that children grow up healthy in body, soul and spirit. This vision was first initiated in 1989 in her private living room with ten children from 3 to 6 years of age. Together with the parents they reflected on good education, useful toys and activities related to nature. More and more parents wanted to participate.
The idea to start a nursery school group followed, but was initially rejected by the skepticism of the authorities and the lack of public funding. Thus the children's group continued with regular parents’ evenings, lectures and creative courses. Another associated group was started in Benediktbeuern. New projects evolved and in 1998, the project received recognition as a family center by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Since then it has been called FAN. Four years later it was possible to open a kindergarten. In addition, the concept of parent-child support (FenKid) was introduced. Counseling and therapy by trained therapists is available. Over the years, contacts were also established with the Benediktbeuern University of Applied Sciences, which regularly accompanies the family center and sends students on their semester internship. Eight bachelor theses have already been written on the FAN.
Another initiative is the student project "Pack's an!" It aims to help students with learning difficulties and is led by the qualified educator and mediator Petra Zott-Endres. She and Melinda Veres also launched the career orientation project PASSGENAU. These include a professional café, biographical workshop, online consultation, counseling and coaching sessions, and a series of workshops where teens can discover their strengths.
With 23 permanent employees, two kindergarten groups, thirteen different offers in the areas of education, upbringing, care, counseling, therapy, creative offers and as a "social meeting place", the family center Noah's Ark is a fixture in the city of Penzberg. It is sponsored by the Advent Wohlfahrtswerk (AWW), the social branch of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. Even the daily vegetarian lunch, which is prepared together with the children, is part of the concept. Further information: www.familienzentrum-arche-noah.de
According to a report by Stephan G. Brass