TU Dortmund University Funds HoKiDo Expansion

In early August, HoKiDo put a 130-square-meter expansion, financed by TU Dortmund University, into operation. This made it possible for the on-campus daycare center to introduce a new childcare group with 20 places. With this expansion, TU Dortmund University is strengthening the range of care services available on campus and helping people strike a better balance between their studies, research, work and family. In addition to this, the university also provided new kitchen appliances, toys and playground equipment for the outdoor area.

The parent initiative HoKiDo e.V. has been running a daycare center on the university campus since 2011. TU Dortmund University financed an expansion to the facility, which began operating in early August, in an effort to meet the increasing demand for childcare places and promote Dortmund as a center for research by facilitating a better work-life balance. “As a parent initiative, we are delighted that we can now offer childcare to even more parents,” says Dr. Thomas Terfrüchte, HoKiDo chairman and academic staff member at the Department of Spatial Planning. The new childcare group has 20 places, meaning 80 children now attend the daycare center on campus.

The demand for these new daycare places was so high that all places for the 2021/2022 kindergarten year have already been taken. “The proximity to the campus and the flexible hours make HoKiDo particularly appealing to university members,” explains Katja Kißler from TU Dortmund University Family Services. The 80 children are cared for in five core groups. These serve as a kind of home base for the children within the open concept of the daycare center – although they spend most of the day mixing with the other groups.

Large wooden pirate ship

In addition to two new rooms where the children can play pretend and slip into various roles, the expansion also provides space for a new child-friendly bathroom and an office. On top of all that, the support provided by TU Dortmund University made it possible to purchase new appliances for the kitchen as well as new toys. Not only that, but the center’s outdoor area was also expanded to give the children a very special playtime experience. They now have a large wooden pirate ship, a climbing frame and other playground equipment that they can use to let off some steam. “The children are very energetic and love the pirate ship. Whenever it’s time to go outside, the ship gets ‘hijacked’ very quickly. It lets them experience real adventures,” says Kirstin Simic, leader of the new childcare group. “And thanks to the extension, the children now have even more space to let loose, play with each other or even enjoy some alone time.”