Association supports

“Rainbows”: Protected space for children of divorce

(Bild: Rainbows)

Separation, divorce or even bereavement: the Rainbows association, which has been active in Carinthia for 30 years, offers children in exceptional situations a protected space.

"I was very skeptical from the start and just listened. I soon realized that being in the group was good for me," says Marcel. The ten-year-old is one of around 18,000 children of divorce in Austria, around 1,200 in Carinthia. "When the father suddenly moves out because the parents are separating, a world collapses for children. Suddenly nothing is as it was," says Rainbows manager Ulla Nettek.

The children are angry, sad, helpless and scared. What's even worse, they feel guilty! "No child, regardless of age, accepts a change in the family situation as if nothing had happened. That's why we offer a protected space where we work through the changed situation with the children in a playful way. In this way, they learn to deal with the new family situation differently," explains Nettek.

"Exchange helps a lot"
After 30 years, Rainbows is now represented in Klagenfurt, Villach, Spittal, Völkermarkt and Wolfsberg. "There are twelve meetings in total, where all questions from children's souls are adequately answered." Especially the exchange with children who have similar situations helps the offspring a lot. The next Rainbows groups start at the end of September. There are also groups after a death. You can find more information here.