On September 11, 2024, the Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy at the RWTH Aachen University Hospital, employees, patients and their relatives were invited to a summer party at Neuenhofer Weg 22. The aim of the event was to strengthen the lobby of mentally ill children and young people and to enable them, their families and employees to spend time together in a relaxed atmosphere outside of the everyday hospital routine.
The summer festival was the first celebration with the new clinic director, Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Michael Siniatchkin, who took over the management of the clinic in October 2023. The gathering was organized by an eight-person organization team from all areas of the clinic. The organizers had prepared a varied program for the visitors in the courtyard in front of the multi-purpose hall. The children were treated to a stamp course where they had to complete various stations – from duck fishing and box stacking to an egg and spoon race course.
Playing football with Alemannia Aachen
A highlight of the event was the visit of the Alemannia Aachen team: the goal-wall shooting with the professional players Luca Schmidt and Anas Bakhat was particularly popular. Afterwards, the children and young people had the opportunity to get an autograph from the players. Also in attendance were managing director Sascha Eller and technical director Erdal Celik. At the tombola that followed, participants could win an Alemannia jersey as the main prize.
Spending time together outside of everyday clinical life
Prof. Siniatchkin is pleased that the festival was so well received by visitors. “It was important to us to give our patients and employees a relaxed time together and an opportunity to exchange ideas outside of the daily routine of the clinic, and to strengthen the sense of community. With our festival, we have laid the foundation for a tradition that we would like to continue in the coming years.”
The festival was financed with the help of a donation from the “Carnival at the University Hospital” organizing team led by Wilfried Niepel. This year’s carnival celebration at the RWTH Aachen University Hospital raised around 5,000 euros for child and adolescent psychiatry. “I would like to thank not only Wilfried Niepel for his constant commitment and great support, but also all the employees at the University Hospital who made the festival possible with their donations,” says Prof. Siniatchkin.
