With the Stern des Südens association for more equal opportunities

Lisete Schwarz: "As long as I'm alive, I won't stop helping people!"

Lisete Schwarz has made it her life's work to help socially disadvantaged children. For ten years, she has been working with her association Stern des Südens (Star of the South) for children and young people in need in Flörsheim. She currently looks after boys and girls from 14 nations with volunteers from the neighborhood.

via Sabrina

08/07/2017, 09:36

Kinder verschiedener Herkunft mit Pinseln und Farbrollen vor einer bemalten Gartenmauer — Painting fun for young and old: on the last day before the vacations, children and young people can paint the garden wall of the Stern des Südens association.

She owes her commitment and heart for other people not least to her formative childhood and her mother's selfless attitude. She herself grew up in poor circumstances in Brazil. Nevertheless, Lisette's mother taught her that there were still poorer people who deserved her help. "When my mother died, it was natural for me to carry on her good work," says Lisete Schwarz.

Better future opportunities for children and young people

So she founded the Stern des Südens association in Flörsheim. In the new clubhouse, which was purchased thanks to a 63,000 euro grant from the German Television Lottery, children and young people are supported with help with their homework and given school materials from the clubhouse to give them better opportunities for the future. Children from refugee families are taught German. Learning the rules for living together in solidarity is also high on the daily agenda here. This allows the boys and girls to develop creatively and through play - whether playing soccer, drawing or playing board games. "The children enjoy learning and integrate quickly," says student Julia, who volunteers at Stern des Südens. "One of the pupils has just skipped a class - and last year one of the girls even graduated from high school."

A full-time project close to her heart

For Lisete, the association is a project close to her heart, in which she invests almost all of her time. She looks after the children on Mondays and Wednesdays. On the other days, she does office work and organizes (fundraising) events with local businesses, schools and kindergartens - all on a voluntary basis. For example, donations are collected at garage sales (every 2nd Saturday of the month), all of which go towards various aid projects.

The association is also committed to helping children and young people in its home country of Brazil. It is named after the "Estrela do Sul", the constellation that stands for hope in Latin America. Because one thing is certain for Lisete: "As long as I'm alive, have the strength and the people who accompany me and support me in my work, I won't stop helping other people!"

You can find more exciting social engagement projects at www.du-bist-ein-gewinn.de.