Schönau Health Week: 600 participants demonstrate enthusiasm for health!

Schönau Health Week: 600 participants demonstrate enthusiasm for health!

The fourth Health Week took place in Schönau, Mannheim on May 28, 2025, with an impressive turnout of around 600 participants. In collaboration with the Caritas Schönau district office, the youth welfare office and the Mannheim health department as well as the Heidelberg University of Education, 33 diverse campaigns were organized that appealed to people of all ages. This initiative offered a variety of opportunities to get active and learn more about healthy lifestyles.

The offers included, among other things, active farm breaks for children, healthy breakfasts, relaxing walks in the forest and even brain jogging. The children from the Hans Christian Andersen primary school and the Schönauschule in particular were able to take part in special sports activities. Young people cooked together in the youth center, while adults had the opportunity to take part in an afternoon of games as well as boules and darts training. For the older generation, senior gymnastics, a garden workshop in the health café and a multi-generational breakfast in the villa were offered.

Diverse activities and sequels

The health week was a complete success and offered not only leisure activities, but also informative events on topics such as self-help, living wills and healthy media use. Many of these offers will continue after the health week, such as regular walks, cooking offers and game meetings. There was also positive feedback from organizers who welcomed participants from other parts of the city. Caritas Mannheim particularly emphasizes the successful cooperation between the actors, who have been working together successfully for the third year.

A highlight of the event was the opening of the city of Mannheim's health café, which acts as a low-threshold contact point for people of all ages. Mayor Dirk Grunert took part in the opening, which was enriched by activities such as fitness tests for children and strengthening exercises by the AOK. Such offers are important to underline the relevance of exercise, especially in old age, as in Practical guidelines for municipal physical activity promotion in old age is described.

Opportunities for students

The students of the Heidelberg University of Education also had the opportunity to gain practical experience during the health week. They organized a total of ten activities, including healthy snacks at the Johanna Geissmar High School and a scavenger hunt for children at the Hans Christian Andersen School. These experiences not only provided an excellent learning opportunity, but also promoted awareness of healthy lifestyles among younger generations.

The positive response from participants has already initiated the planning of a fifth health week for next year. The organizers are confident that they will be able to continue offering a wide range of activities that benefit the health and well-being of citizens. Impressions of the health week are on the YouTube channel Caritas Association Mannheim available.