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Bucher Porträts
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Children club the "Cube"
The „Cube“ is the club for Buch children
During this period the 49-year-old sociologist has become someone that many children can confide in, not just someone from who they can borrow toys but someone they can talk to about their personal problems. For the last year the children also feel clearly better in the „Cube“.
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For many years the place was not just a children’s club, it was a club for young people. However, it was found that in the new building development in Buch it was not a simple matter to offer facilities to people aged six to twenty-six under the same roof.
Because there was also a local leisure facility involving the youth club „The Old One“ on the Wiltbergstraße, in Summer 2006 the Pankow youth support group decided to split the facilities they offered. „Now we only offer facilities to children aged six to thirteen and, in the youth club ‚The Old One’ we have things just for young people aged 14 and upwards“, says Steffen Kopf. The children are also grateful for this decision. They are independent and there are no longer any arguments with the older members.
Club at the centre of things
The „Cube“ is located in the cement block area Buch IV - and is itself a cement block. In this area, as in so many other new build areas of this kind, there are quite a lot of social problems. „Because of this a leisure facility for children like this is very important“, says Kopf. „Here they can meet their friends as well as asking us for help and support and, for example, also do their homework here.“
The fact that there is what is called an open area is particularly important for many of the close on 100 regular visitors. In this part of the club they can play table tennis, football or billiards, use the games room or surf the internet.
„We also offer the children the chance to cook or bake with us. We have a woodworking room and a bicycle repair facility and help our members if they want to do something creative“, says Steffen Kopf. They also offer courses such as breakdancing and Taekwondo.
 Friendly atmosphere
The „Cube“ is not an exclusive club for children, it also collaborates with people from the poorer areas.. „The atmosphere for us in Buch has become more friendly overall“, thinks Steffen Kopf after the childrens’ club has been running for a year.
„Before this, many parents had forbidden their children to come to us because they were worried there might be fighting with the young club members at, for example, the disko. Today, the parents are much more open as far as we are concerned.“
There is a two way system in operation since the „Cube“ also offers families something. For example, on application, rooms can be made available where families can celebrate their children’s birthdays.
Wishes for the future
Steffen Kopf thinks that there could still be improvements in the collaboration with the Buch elementary school in Sandhaus. „We would be very happy to collaborate with them more closely. For example, our staff at the Cube could help children in the afternoon with their homework. After all, not all pupils visit the shelter. The school could recommend that homework be carried out in the Cube. However, unfortunately, so far we have not been able to discuss this with the school management.“
As far as the future of the „Cube“ is concerned, Steffen Kopf wants lots more children to find their way to the children’s club. After all, it is a leisure facility that has been specially aimed at the community – and which should be used to the full.
„The Club“ on Wolfgang-Heinz-Straße 45 is open on Sundays from 12.00 to 19.00 and Mondays to Fridays from 13.00 to 20.00. Tel. 9493055.
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At this site you will find portraits of Buch's citizens and institutions that we think you will be interested in. New ones will be dispalyed each month.
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