In cases like this, a playground godfather can appointed to carry out regular checks with the objective of resolving existing faults and dangers and keeping the playground suitable for use at all times.
Playground ‘Godparents’ already exist in a large number of cities using different systems. For example the community can transfer care of the public playgrounds to private citizens, associations, parent groups, school classes etc. who work on a voluntary basis and ideally should be from the vicinity where the playground is located. In a partner-like cooperation with the community authorities or city administration, these then care for ‘their’ playground. In those places where there is no ‘Godfather’ system, citizens or associations can contact the authorities responsible (youth welfare office, parks and gardens department) or the owner in order to discuss starting such a system and to clarify the details.
The ABA Association for Public Work with Children and Youths (ABA Fachverband Offene Arbeit mit Kindern und Jugendlichen) is one of the most important contact partners for playground ‘godparents’ in North Rhine Westphalia. A study carried out by this association last year brought the realisation that in the mean time, around 3000 ‘godparents’ are active in communities throughout the North Rhine Westphalia region. With their work they are carrying out an important contribution to the varied scenes of child and youth work and enrich the field of public work with children in a satisfying manner. This study also showed that this voluntary work does not create competition with full-time professionals, but that the higher the number of active volunteers, the higher the financial and personal outlay by communities, sponsors or real estate companies with their accompanying investments. These activities are especially well developed in the cities of Mulheim an der Ruhr and Krefeld, but can also be found in smaller communities such as Neuenrade and Wadersloh. In North Rhine Westphalia (NRW) the field of activity of ‘playground godparents’ is probably most distinctive compared to other areas throughout Germany. As far as is known, the ABA Association is the only organisation which explicitly organises work in this area. This involves not only volunteer workers, but also professional organisers of these projects. In this way, an annual ‘godparent’ conference has taken place for more than 10 years now. Along with other offers such as seminars, conferences and study trips, the efforts of the association towards this kind of voluntary citizen work has also had political effects on communities in other regions of Germany – it can often be determined that the professional principles of the ABA Association are seen again and again in council and committee guidelines in numerous communities.
National conference for ‘playground godparents’
For more than 10 years now, the ABA Association for Public Work with Children and Youths has organised voluntary playground ‘godparents’. The first NRW conference for playground volunteers took place in Dortmund. In 2009 this conference was held on November 14th in the “Fabrik Heeder” culture centre in Krefeld. In the meantime the Godparent-Conference has developed into a solid institution in this region. Here, voluntary workers meet regularly with experienced speakers and find an opportunity to develop their work further in a professional way. The event was integrated into the “Tage der Spielplatzpaten NRW 2009” organised by the ABA Association. With support from the region, this event was organised at 10 different locations, made possible through the regional youth organisation “Pakt mit der Jugend NRW”. The “pact” is part of the children and youth development programme of the North Rhine Westphalia region. During this event, “Thank you parties”, the nomination of new godparents and expert presentations took place.
The exemplary efforts of the city of Krefeld – even outside its own boundaries – were pointed out during the event by Prof. Klaus Schäfer from the regional Ministry for intergenerational Affairs, Family, Women and Integration. In his position as department head he is responsible for children and juvenile work and welcomed the participants in the name of the minister Armin Laschet. He emphasised that a remarkable amount of commitment could be seen in the playground work. He also confirmed the realisation of the ABA Association that the more officially invested in professional juvenile programmes, the easier it is to find voluntary workers. Good organisation and care is the A and O of the work and always proves its worth. With regard to the city of Krefeld he supported the perception that this enjoys recognition well outside its boundaries for its exemplary work.
Krefeld was represented by the deputy head of the youth welfare office, Gudrun Stangenberg. A presentation was also made by the director of the Danish Play Institute, Jeanette Fich Jespersen. This institute is supported by the Kopman Company. Jeannette Fich Jespersen travelled from Denmark especially for the occasion and impressed the audience with the knowledgeable content of her presentation. Her lively account as well as her personal and expert competency was greeted with a great response from participants. The institute maintains a network of experts throughout Europe. Along with facts worth knowing about the development of playgrounds and playground equipment, she also provided exciting information regarding growth and development of today’s children and juveniles. Among other things it was clearly apparent how essential outside play activities are for young people. The professional programme of the event was closed by a presentation of the internet platform “Spielplatztreff” (playground club), by Bettina Schilling from Cologne. She was invited to appear at this event by the ABA Association after starting to organise this internet service this year.
With this event for ‘playground godparents’ the ABA Association intended to express their thanks to the numerous voluntary workers in NRW. These, on the other hand, were generous in their praise for the association for its playground support activities over the past 10 years. In many places, the work carried out by ‘godparents’ is in the mean time more intensive and more important due to the expert support provided by the ABA Association. The association was very pleased with this positive feedback.
“On the journey from Krefeld to Dortmund and on the following Monday I received numerous compliments on our regional conference for playground godparents. I would like to pass on the comments and thanks of ‘my’ godparents on this year’s NRW playground conference. Quotes: “It was really worth it for me to be there today.” – “The programme of the conference was very interesting, time just flew by!” – “I will publish my playground on the internet at Spielplatztreff.de.” – “I really felt that Ms. Jespersen puts her whole heart into her work.” – “When is the next regional conference in Dortmund?” - “I would also like to say a ‘thank you’ for the organisation on site, for all the power-point presentations at the conference, for the uncomplicated handling of financial affairs, for the preparation and publication of posters and balloons, the cooperation during the Dortmund celebrations and for the interviews – I was embarrassed by the results from Dortmund, but they showed me at the same time that my handling of voluntary work is correct. I am looking forward to the next event,” stated Lotte Lohse, Youth Welfare Office Dortmund and speaker for the NRW playground godparents in her letter to he ABA Association dated November 19, 2009.
More information on the topic of ‘Playground Godparents’ can be found at: www.aba-fachverband.org
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