Alisa was born into a Jewish family that had to endure the horrors of the National Socialist era in Germany. Her parents survived the concentration camp, but the pain and trauma of that time became an invisible legacy of pain, destruction and loss, passed down from generation to generation, shaping the entire family. Alisa struggled with the fears and traumas of her parents, which became her own.
Lonely and haunted by existential fears, Alisa hid and hoarded her inheritance, as if trying to hold on to the unresolved. She passed away in 2023, never having had the chance to heal her inner wounds. She never received the help she so desperately needed to find peace.
The inheritance, like the invisible wounds of the parents’ generation, was passed down within the family—until a remarkable twist in the story occurred. Alisa had bequeathed her fortune to her cousin. After his death, his wife, Brigitte, decided to search for a meaningful use for the inheritance.
Touched by Alisa’s fate, as well as by meeting a friend who shared her experiences from the Chechen War, Brigitte developed a desire to support initiatives that help children and young people cope with their trauma. She herself had grown up in a family with five siblings in Switzerland, a country untouched by the ravages of war. Her gratitude for these privileges has only grown with age, she tells us.
Through her sister, who had long supported the Freunde der Erziehungskunst, Brigitte eventually learned about Emergency Pedagogy and the work being done to protect children and young people from the long-term effects of trauma. It was a moment of clarity: This help, which she could offer, was the perfect way to transform part of Alisa’s inheritance into a positive future.
With this realization and deep gratitude for the trust placed in her decision, Brigitte and her family donated part of Alisa’s estate to help children and young people in difficult life situations.
We are deeply moved and grateful to accept this donation – from someone who, sadly, never had the opportunity to experience the help we provide today. But it is through the memory of Alisa that we can make a difference together. We are motivated and determined to continue our work—for a more peaceful and hopeful future.
Your support also matters. Every donation helps us to assist children and young people affected by trauma at an early stage—before it becomes a profound burden. Every contribution brings us one step closer to a world where children can grow up without the weight of unresolved trauma.