With shining eyes, Eddy talks about the circus ring while his twin brother Paul looks for the juggling balls. One anecdote about fire-breathing and magic tricks follows the next. There are pictures to prove it: Eddy as a clown, Paul on the trapeze, neatly pasted into the self-made photo album. The special memories come from last year's children's trip to the Ostholstein circus camp. With the children's trips, the Deutsche Fernsehlotterie enables young people from low-income families to enjoy carefree vacation days. "This support was a real benefit for us," says mother Uta Kloth. Like so many families in Germany, she is unfortunately unable to afford a vacation for her children.
Vacations are an important part of social and cultural participation for children. Children from low-income families must not be excluded from this,
says Christian Kipper, Managing Director of the German Television Lottery.
On its 60th birthday, the social lottery is enabling 1,600 young people to enjoy a carefree vacation. This commitment is no coincidence. The very first live draws supported the "A place in the sun" aid campaign. By selling tickets, children from West Berlin were able to enjoy a relaxing vacation in West Germany.
Children's trips with educational added value
"Then as now, we not only want to offer fun and relaxation, but also do something for personal development," explains Kipper. This is why all participating vacation camps have a special educational focus. At the international school farm in Hardegsen in Lower Saxony, for example, children learn about country life at the children's holiday camp. The youngsters help with feeding and milking, and in the afternoon they cook together in the farm kitchen. The Euroville Jugend- und Sporthotel Naumburg is a sporty place. In the heart of Saxony-Anhalt, children can kick a football to their heart's content, climb trees in the climbing forest or experience nature on a rubber dinghy tour. Children can enjoy an adventurous vacation at Thurn Castle near Nuremberg. Here, the little camp visitors discover a fairytale forest and compete in knight games. Such special experiences in the children's holiday camps are intended to strengthen self-confidence and promote social skills in the long term.
Uta Kloth can only confirm how well this works: "The week at the circus has made my boys much more self-confident," she says, smiling proudly as the juggling balls fly merrily around the living room.
Children's trips with the German TV Lottery receive royal support
Queen Silvia of Sweden, who visited the TV Lottery's vacation camp at Schloss Thurn, also knows how important the work of the Social Lottery is. The blue blood honored the long-standing commitment of the German TV Lottery. As the founder of the World Childhood Foundation, the socially disadvantaged little ones are of course particularly close to her heart.
Children have a right to carefree leisure time. The World Childhood Foundation and Deutsche Fernsehlotterie want to further strengthen the social framework for this,
says Queen Silvia of Sweden.
More stories from the children's camps at kinderreisen.fernsehlotterie.de
Making an important contribution to people in need throughout Germany and at the same time having the chance to win millions up to 70 times a year - that's possible with a TV lottery ticket. You can find more information here: http://www.fernsehlotterie.de/Gewinnen/Gewinnmöglichkeiten