top of page
Kopie von Design ohne Titel.jpg

Short history of the AWO

​

  • 1919 : The AWO is founded by Marie Juchacz in Berlin – as a social-democratic self-help organisation for working-class families after the First World War.

  • 1933 : The AWO is banned by the National Socialists, their property confiscated, many members are persecuted.

  • 1946/47: New foundation in the western occupation zones after the Second World War, including Bavaria.

  • 1950s–1970s : Expansion of the AWO into a free welfare association with institutions for children, the elderly, people with disabilities and in youth welfare.

  • 1990 : Extension of the AWO after reunification also in the new federal states.

  • Today: The AWO is one of the largest welfare associations in Germany with over 300,000 members, around 240,000 full-time employees and thousands of facilities in care, child and youth welfare, education and integration.

 

AWO Ortverein Sonthofen

 

  • The Sonthofen municipal association is part of the Kempten-Oberallgäu district association of the AWO Swabia. The chair is Gisela Marks, office at Flurstraße 1, Sonthofen.

  • A well-known project is KiMut – encourage children, which promotes children from low-income families during school trips, language courses or leisure activities. The award is confidential through schools or kindergartens

 

The association also organises meetings for families, day trips and supports the Sonthofer Children's Festival to promote community and participation.


Foundation and early years: Sonthofen/Kreisverband


➤ 1947

 

  • Foundation of the district association Sonthofen within the framework of the reconstruction of regional AWO structures after the war.

  • Already in the same year, the commitment to children's recuperation programmes started.


➤ 1954–1957

 

  • The district association rented the house "Alpenblick" in Burgberg as well as the "Hirsch" inn near Kempten – both as holiday accommodation for children. The initially good demand fell, and the project was discontinued.

 

➤ Up and expanded in the 1970s

 

  • Under the chairmanship of Karl Harder, the local clubs were revived:

• Sonthofen (1971)

• Flaichach (1972)

• Oberstaufen (1976)

  • The number of members doubled, e.g. in Oberstdorf; Old Towns recorded over 50 members.

  • In 1970, the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Südostschwaben (later Allgäu) was founded with district associations, among others Sonthofen. In the course of the regional reform, the district association officially became a district association Oberallgäu from 1994.

 

➤ Retirement aid and senior meetings

​​

  • 24. May 1973 : A Day care center for the elderly (Sudetenstr. 17) was opened in Sonthofen – at that time, according to the district chairman, the "most beautiful old people's club home in Schwaben".

  • Other initiatives: establishment of old clubs and the promotion of the independence of older people as well as contacts with other district associations such as Neustadt near Coburg.

 

________________________________________

​

➤ From 1980 until today – expansion of tasks

​​

  • The AWO Swabia expanded – both in terms of services such as youth welfare and home care, as well as social institutions throughout Swabia.

  • The Sonthofen district association also adapted: especially elderly care, care, palliative care, including open offers for dementia sufferers and outpatient services.

  • Meanwhile, the AWO Swabia has around 87 local clubs, 13 district associations, 2,700 full-time employees and more than 8,000 members.

bottom of page