Netzwerk Geburt und Familie e.V. has been offering services for women, families and children in Munich since 1986. With all their services, they want to support people in taking responsibility for themselves.

As part of various projects, long-term unemployed women – including many mothers and single parents – are employed and given job-specific qualifications. Most of the women suffer from the consequences of flight, violence, trauma and chronic illnesses. The aim of the projects is to stabilize these women through learning and working together – with joy and creativity – so that they can increase their chances of integration into the general labour market or, if possible, transition directly into it.

Moving Child supports various health prevention programs within the network. These include group offers on “movement and relaxation”, “breath and voice”, dance therapy offers, offers on pelvic floor and posture, gyrokinesis as well as creative offers from art therapy. Moving Child co-finances the therapists’ fees and the equipment in the rooms. The exercise program also encourages the children to enjoy activities. Moving Child provides swimming passes and funds for excursions.

“We see not only from studies, but also in our day-to-day work that intensive preventative health measures in the social enterprise have a very positive effect on individual women and their children. We also notice these effects through better mood, improved concentration and less absenteeism at work.”

Eva Müller

Anna Schulz-Dornburg, Managing Director of Moving Child, runs dance therapy programs on a voluntary basis as part of the association’s health promotion activities. Her final thesis entitled “Preserving dignity” describes her experiences with this project between 2013 and 2017.

“In today’s industrial and working society, gainful employment is seen as an important pillar of identity. Unemployment is seen as a stigma by those affected and by society as a whole. Long-term unemployment also leads to self-deprecation and feelings of shame among those affected. It often triggers strong feelings of powerlessness and means exclusion and restriction of self-determination in social life. The main aim of my dance therapy services and interventions is to give women access to their resources and more joy and freedom in their own lives.”

Anna Schulz-Dornburg