It all started in June 2005, when Dr. Ursula von der Leyen, the then Federal Minister for Family and Social Affairs, attended a meeting of the Braunschweig region's employers' association (Arbeitgeberverband Region Braunschweig e.V. - AGV). More support for families was called for. The AGV quickly formed a planning committee that included representatives from a number of companies in the region: eck*cellent IT GmbH, HUP AG, Nord/LB, Öffentliche Versicherung and Braunschweigische Maschinenbauanstalt AG. As a result of the extensive preliminary work carried out by these and other businesses and coordinated by the AGV, the "Kinder-Werk" crèche facility was able to open in 2009.

Braunschweig city council helped to develop a unique concept for cooperation between the council, the state of Lower Saxony and a number of companies, which has resulted in an inter-company childcare facility in Braunschweig. Even the federal government has made a generous contribution of subsidies. In 2008, Kinder-Werk GmbH was founded, which both runs and operates the Kinder-Werk crèche. In a complex selection process, the Braunschweig branch of the workers' welfare association Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO) was chosen as a service provider for the facility. AWO provides both the educational concept and expert staff to care for the children.

With the professional support by AWO and part AG from Bad Gandersheim, and the voluntary activities of Mr Martin Dombrowa, the retired Head of Administration of BMA AG, and Ms Sabine Behrens-Mayer, a shareholder of BMA AG and managing director of the non-profit organisation Kinder-Werk gGmbH, an old office building at BMA's Kramerstraße site has been converted into an up-to-date childcare facility. It has places for 78 children - four groups for infants and toddlers up to 3 years and one group for children aged up to 6 years. Thirty percent of places are earmarked for children from local families. The 1.4 m euro investment has largely been funded with federal subsidies. Operating costs will initially be covered by the European Social Fund, Braunschweig city council, contributions from the companies involved, and parent funding.

The first childcare places for their employees' youngest family members have been reserved by Norddeutsche Landesbank, Braunschweigische Landessparkasse, Öffentliche Versicherung Braunschweig, HUP AG, eck*cellent IT GmbH, ckc AG, Braunschweiger Zeitungsverlag GmbH & Co. KG, RegJo Verlag für regionales Marketing Südostniedersachsen GmbH, Robert Bosch GmbH and, of course, BMA AG.

Since the crèche opened in mid-September 2009, it has steadily grown. Today almost 30 children are being cared for in one crèche group and the group for children of up to 6 years.
December, 2009