Groundbreaking Ceremony for New Daycare Center in Wiesbaden-Dotzheim

The total investment amounts to 6.3 million euros and is being financed through a capital grant from the city’s daycare center expansion program. The project is being developed by EVIM on a roughly 1,550-square-meter leasehold property owned by the parish.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Jörg Wiegand, EVIM’s Chief Financial Officer, welcomed numerous guests from politics, the church, and the community—including Wiesbaden’s Director of Social Affairs, Dr. Patricia Becher; representatives of the City of Wiesbaden and the parish; EVIM’s management and specialist departments; members of the Board of Directors; and the architectural firm Wellnitz + Partner Architekten BDA.

Inclusion as a lived practice

A central focus of the project is EVIM’s lived practice of inclusive coexistence, which will also be a matter of course in the new facility. Guest of honor Gerhardt Grau, a former parish pastor and member of EVIM, emphasized the special significance of this approach. The 90-year-old had been advocating for the development of the property long before construction began. “The fact that a kindergarten is being built here that is also open to children with disabilities is a great joy for me,” said Gerhardt Grau. The development of the property had been an important step back then—which is why he is all the more pleased that this idea is now becoming a reality. From his many years of working with people with disabilities, he has also learned how valuable inclusive encounters are. The new daycare center builds directly on that.

Expansion of urgently needed spots

Dr. Patricia Becher, Head of Social Affairs, emphasized the importance of daycare centers for the city: “In Wiesbaden, children are not only cared for, but above all empowered to face life with confidence.” Inclusion, she noted, is a natural component of modern educational work—and is already being successfully implemented at EVIM and in many other city facilities. “We are pleased that we will continue to advance this development here together with EVIM,” said the Social Affairs Director.

In Wiesbaden, there are currently 329 childcare spots available in the nursery and elementary sectors under the management of EVIM Bildung. Nevertheless, there remains a high demand for additional services. In Dotzheim, approximately 30 percent of the required nursery spots and around 89 percent of the elementary spots are currently covered. “Expansion is urgently needed,” Becher emphasized. She also pointed to exemplary projects such as “Many Perspectives – One Team, One Daycare Center,” in which EVIM is an important partner and supports the further development of educational work in Wiesbaden.

Good Cooperation Between the Church and Diakonie

Jörg Wiegand noted that the initiative for the new daycare center originated from the EVIM board. The idea was very well received by the church congregation. “This is a successful example of the close and trusting cooperation between the church and the Diakonie,” said Jörg Wiegand. About five and a half years had passed from the initial idea to the start of construction—a timeframe that is quite typical for a project of this scale. The building permit was granted in December 2025. The Executive Director thanked the City of Wiesbaden and the parish for their trust, as well as the architectural firm for the successful design.

Appreciation from the Local Council and Parish

The project is also being expressly welcomed at the local level. Andreas Rech, deputy district chairman, spoke of a “special event in times of tight budgets.” He noted that it sends an important signal that Dotzheim continues to make targeted investments in social infrastructure. “We expressly support this,” Rech emphasized. On behalf of the Evangelical Dreikönigsgemeinde, Andreas Reinemer highlighted the shared mission of the church and the social welfare organization: The goal is to lay the groundwork for a self-determined life and to foster a sense of community characterized by care and respect. The new daycare center is a concrete expression of this Christian view of humanity.

Outlook

With this new building, EVIM is sending another signal regarding the expansion of needs-based and inclusive childcare in Wiesbaden. The construction of the new facility, commissioned by the City of Wiesbaden, will not only create additional spots but also serve as a place where diversity is naturally embraced. Following the groundbreaking ceremony, guests took advantage of the sunny spring day to chat and mingle—accompanied by delicious catering from the EVIM ServiceKüche im Grünen. (hk)