Selters Neighborhood Project to Continue
The successful neighborhood initiative in Selters can continue. The German TV Lottery is supporting the “Neighborhood for Everyone” project with a grant of 126,000 euros. The funds will go to EVIM gGmbH | Altenhilfe, which is implementing the project on behalf of the city of Selters. This will cover the personnel and operational costs of the neighborhood management program through the end of 2027.
At the grant presentation ceremony, Stephan Masch, a representative of the German TV Lottery, praised the commitment of those involved: “With your work to combat loneliness, you are already far ahead of other municipalities. The project impressively demonstrates how an idea has given rise to genuine connections and a vibrant sense of community. We are very happy to support such a commitment.”
The two neighborhood managers, Angela Schmitz-Buchholz and Michael Voss, are dedicated to actively involving people in community life and strengthening social cohesion. In doing so, they focus on both older adults and residents with international backgrounds. The success of the initiative proves the concept right: Up to 25 events a month bring people together through senior gatherings, group cooking, digital courses, exercise classes, walker classes, a creative workshop, and slide shows. New additions include a Repair Café with sewing workshops, a skat club, and a dance bar. In the future, the goal is to train and involve even more volunteers, lay the groundwork for a senior citizens’ advisory board, and establish forms of self-organization for migrants.
The German TV Lottery was impressed not only by the diverse range of activities but also by the close collaboration among local stakeholders. At the “Treff am Markt,” city officials, the mayor, city council members, and social organizations come together to shape neighborhood initiatives collaboratively.
“We are very grateful,” said Mayor Rolf Jung, “that there are so many dedicated individuals at work here who have come together to form a sustainable network. We are also grateful to the Else Schütz Foundation and the German TV Lottery for their financial support.” Municipal Mayor Oliver Götsch also praised the project’s work: “With the ‘Treff am Markt,’ we’ve succeeded in enabling older people to participate as well—all in one place and right in the heart of town.”
Peter Kiel of EVIM gGmbH | Altenhilfe emphasized the social importance of community-based work: “In light of demographic change, the inclusion of older adults is becoming increasingly important. Care facilities alone will not be able to meet the challenges of the coming years. That is why we must build structures in which people can be cared for at home for longer and where people look out for one another.”
The German TV Lottery is Germany’s longest-running social lottery. Over the past 70 years, it has supported 11,500 social projects with more than 2.2 billion euros. In 2025 alone, 755,000 people enjoyed total winnings of more than 45 million euros. Ninety of them won more than 100,000 euros, and there were 11 million-euro winners.
The community work in Selters was supported by the German TV Lottery right from the start—during the first three years—with the Else Schütz Foundation covering 20 percent of the funding and making the renovation into today’s “Treff am Markt” possible. This arrangement will now continue for two more years, through the end of 2027. Further funding from the TV Lottery will not be possible after that. “We are already working intensively on the question of how we can ensure the continuation of this successful work beyond 2027,” explained Mayor Rolf Jung. (Press release from the City of Selters; Photo: Eckhard Schneider)