Evangelische Stiftung neinstedt: About us

The Nathusius established the Foundation in 1850. Their mission was simple: to bring the love of God closer to others, one human being to another, to open up greater possibilities for disadvantaged persons, and to give them the gift of house and home – the gift of community.

Grounded in Christian faith, all our actions are first and foremost motivated by people and their social needs. We are social-diaconal service providers in the areas of senior care, transitional and rehabilitative care, and youth welfare. We see ourselves as a diaconal organization with the obligation to provide services in a cost-effective and socially responsible way.

From the basis of Christian love of neighbor, we support individual, holistic formation and development.
In our common humanity: All people are created in the image of God, mind, soul, and body. We respect each and every person as having intrinsic value and worth. We seek to discern and develop the strengths that each person brings with them.

At the Evangelsiche Stiftung Neinstedt, we have faithfully formed and fostered people from all walks of life since 1850.
In our faithfulness: The Christian tradition lives in community. We provide residential options, work positions, recreational opportunities, and therapeutic possibilities. We value and engage in respectful and authentic conversation and listening together.

We can be trusted with loved ones.
As a qualified and innovative care partner, we assume responsibility of accountability and an open society.
In our responsibility: We give people confidence. To make our work better, we need partners throughout all of society. We are in standing dialog with our partners on how we can continue to evolve together. Our knowledge and skill set naturally forms common, shared life.

1. How clear is our diaconal language regarding what we do?
   
2. What societal needs do we observe today, and how can we discern new possibilities for action?
3. How can we advance the well-being of all our residents and employees?

The Evangelische Stiftung Neinstedt’s Annual Report lays out the Foundation’s goals and strategies fort he coming year. It covers different projects and developments, including an accounting of finanical records.

The Evangelische Stiftung Neinstedt was from its founding rooted in the work of Christian love of neighbor.

Philipp von Nathusius and his wife Marie opened a boys‘ rescue and brother house for the welfare of orphans and boys from socially disadvantaged families on their Neinstedt estate – the Lindenhof – in 1850. Nearby the brother house (where today stands the Marienhof) stood various workshops and a farm. In 1861, Philipp’s sister, Johanne Nathusius, opened a further facility in Neinstedt, the Elizabeth Foundation, for people with intellectual disabilites. She campaigned for comprehensive support of people with disabilities, and stood up to the established societal structures and norms of the time with her humanitarian work. By 1900, the Elizabeth Foundation was one of the largest social services providers for people with disabilities and seizure patients in Germany.

Both Foundations were merged into a unified Foundation in 1988, called the Neinstedter Anstalten, or Neinstedt Institutions.

Rehabilitation of History
Currently, the Foundation is compiling a „History of Neinstedt from 1850 to 2020“ together with historian Reinhard Neumann, Professor at the diaconal vocational school in Bethel, Nordrhein-Westfalen, to be released in conjunction with the 170th anniversary celebrations of Neinstedt’s founding, slated for 2020.

The headquarters of the Evangelische Stiftung Neinstedt is in Neinstedt on the northeastern border of the Harz region.

Other locations are found in the districts of Harz and Bördeland.

The Evangelische Stiftung Neinstedt is a member of the accredited social welfare union Diakonisches Werk. Through this membership, the Foundation is integrated into the lobbying and advocacy activities of Diakonisches Werk, with special reference to social politics in the state of Sachsen-Anhalt and throughout Germany. The collegial exchange and development of expertise in social fields through the committees of Diakonisches Werk greatly enhance our Foundation. The Evangelische Stiftung Neinstedt is a member of the Bundesverband Evangelischer Behindertenhilfe e.V., the Federal Union of Evangelical Aid Organizations for the Disabled.

The Evangelische Stiftung Neinstedt works together with many regional and national partners.

The Goals of this Collaboration are:

• Regional Investment
  Collaboration with local and statewide social service providers, industry, and handicraft workshops.
• Sharing of Ideas
  Collaboration with congregations
• Administrative Organization
  Collaboration with state social service administration.
• International Exchange and Support
  Collaboration with the Diaconal Center in Tanzania and diaconal communities in the United States.