Family and compatibility

What is life like for single parents in the Siegen-Wittgenstein district? What challenges do they face in their daily lives, and what kinds of support services would they like to see? The Siegen-Wittgenstein district’s Equal Opportunities Officer is exploring these questions through an anonymous online survey.

The goal is to raise awareness of the living conditions of single parents and to further develop existing services to better meet their needs. At the same time, the survey draws attention to the network “Single Parent—But Not Alone,” which offers opportunities for exchange, information, and support.

Participation is anonymous, takes only a few minutes, and is open until October 31, 2026:

👉 https://siegenwittgenstein.limesurvey.net/942868

Anyone who would like to support the survey is welcome to share the link and the attached poster via their own mailing lists, newsletters, and social media channels, or to print and display them. Every response helps ensure that services for single parents are even better tailored to their needs.

For more information, please contact Olga Becker (Equal Opportunities Officer for the Siegen-Wittgenstein District, o.becker@siegen-wittgenstein.de) and Martina Kratzel (Equal Opportunities Officer for the City of Siegen, m.kratzel@siegen.de).

The Single Parents’ Network of the Siegen-Wittgenstein District and the University City of Siegen is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, all single parents and their children are cordially invited to come together and enjoy a day full of variety, featuring information, socializing, and the chance to connect with others.
 

The anniversary event will take place onSaturday, September 12, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at BlueBox Siegen, the children’s and youth recreation center run by Stadtjugendring Siegen e. V. (Sandstraße 54, 57074 Siegen).

The focus of the day will be on recognizing and raising the visibility of single parents. The event offers an opportunity to engage in conversation, make new connections, and learn about counseling and support services in the region. At the same time, the goal is to further strengthen the network and give interested single parents the chance to learn about the services available.
 

Refreshments will also be provided: In addition to beverages, visitors can look forward to a variety of culinary offerings. The event thus invites attendees to spend time together in a pleasant atmosphere.

The event is organized by the equal opportunity offices of the Siegen-Wittgenstein district and the University City of Siegen, the Family Office of the University City of Siegen, the Early Intervention Services of the Siegen-Wittgenstein district, and other regional network partners.

On Thursday, July 2, 2026

from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

the lecture will be offered digitally as a Webex video conference with the following content:

Even in 2026, the role of fathers in their children’s development is still frequently underestimated. Yet fathers play just as significant a role as mothers. They serve as primary caregivers and sparring partners, sources of guidance, role models and pillars of support, problem solvers, playmates, and providers. Fatherhood is influenced by one’s own childhood and experience of fatherhood, by cultural and religious ideals, the child’s development, the relationship with the mother, and current external influences.

Tobias Schiefer (https://www.lag-vaeterarbeit.nrw/) will share insights from the experiences of the State Working Group on Fatherhood in North Rhine-Westphalia and discuss the opportunities and challenges in working with the target group of “fathers.” He invites participants to reflect on their own attitudes as well as their (educational) practices.

Daniela Wabnitz and Christine Graba from the Municipal Integration Center of the Siegen-Wittgenstein District will then provide information about the state-funded prevention initiative “Project Fatherhood.” In the spirit of “Strong Fathers – Strong Children,” fathers’ groups are supported as part of integration efforts in the district.

Please send a binding registration by July 1, 2026, to:

integration@siegen-wittgenstein.de

Participation is free of charge.

Participants will receive the invitation to the Webex conference after the registration deadline.

Young carers - children, teenagers and young adults who regularly take on caring or supportive tasks in their families - often remain hidden. They look after relatives with chronic illnesses, physical or mental impairments or addictions and often receive little support.

With this workshop, the South Westphalia Regional Office would like to raise awareness of the life situation of young carers, highlight the challenges and burdens they face and present existing support services.

Date: Monday, July 13, 2026

Time: 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Format: Digital

The speakers will be Lea Dreissen (social worker B.A.) and Wolfgang Foltin (qualified social pedagogue) from the "In zwei Welten" initiative. The event is aimed at professionals, multipliers and anyone who works with young people or is interested in the topic.

Participation is free of charge. Registration is possible until 05.07.2026.

To register, please use the following link
or follow the QR code on the flyer below.

On April 22, the DRK KiTa Berghüpfer invites you to a cake sale at the university campus. From 10:00 to 15:00 you can expect a delicious selection of home-baked cakes and sweet delicacies in the Uni Siegen Bistro AR. Come along, enjoy and support the KiTa! 🍰

Do you combine education with support or care? Contribute your experiences creatively, exchange ideas and make the topic visible - in free workshops (May/June 2026, Frankfurt & online).

Discover the varied event program 2026 of the HNF NRW: Look forward to exciting workshops, lectures and events on digital education, care and social issues. Find out more and find suitable offers now!