After 45 years, the Children and Adolescents’ Home in Geesdorf, Germany, has recently bought a new kitchen. The old one was damaged beyond repair after so many years of use: the oven was faulty, the fridge and hob too small, the cupboards tired and the appliances well out of date. The room was overrun with problems, but eleven people were still reliant on it morning, noon and night.

The children’s home was struggling to find the 10,000 euros needed for the refit. Luckily, several supporters stepped in to help finance the new kitchen, with Mix for Kids donating the largest sum of 4,000 euros.

The large induction hob has made everyone’s lives easier, the fridge has more than enough space and a counter can hold the food ready for the table. More than ever since the renovation, the kitchen is the hub of the children and teenagers’ everyday lives. They cook and bake together and everyone pitches in. In fact, there’s a schedule in place to decide whose turn it is and when. “Our favorite food is pasta,” says 13-year-old Leonora who is thrilled with the modern new kitchen. And she’s not the only one – all the children and the home’s director, Cornelia Süptitz, couldn’t be happier.