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Hamburg (dpa / lno) - According to the children's aid project Arche, the lockdown due to the corona pandemic will leave deep marks on socially disadvantaged children.

"The consequences of the lockdown are fatal," said project manager Tobias Lucht of the German press agency.

Even at the first lockdown in spring, the school closings caused the deficits of many children to be so great that they could hardly be made up.

"We already hear from teachers who have given up some children."

Many fourth graders would switch to secondary school in the summer without being able to read and write properly.

Many parents in the hotspot districts of Jenfeld, Harburg and Billstedt could not help their children with homeschooling, for example because they themselves have language difficulties.

The spatial conditions are also different from, for example, in districts such as Eppendorf or Winterhude.

"Many of the families we look after live with five or six children in a three-room apartment," said Lucht.

"There isn't a room for learning or a digital device for every child," said the 41-year-old.

He therefore hopes that the schools in Hamburg will soon be able to offer face-to-face teaching again - in whatever form.

"Lessons at a distance for several months don't work," said Lucht.

"Children need the physical presence of an adult who encourages them and whom they can also ask questions".

The performance level of the children and their age must also play an important role.

"For many children, their teachers are often the only people they can relate to," said the teacher.

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Since 2006, the Arche employees have been taking care of the children and young people in Jenfeld with leisure activities and homework assistance - in addition there are two houses in Billstedt and Harburg.

In contrast to the first lockdown, the three locations did not have to be closed this time.

"We try to give every child as much time as possible because we know how difficult it is at home," said Lucht.

Nevertheless, the children could only come in fixed groups twice a week, and warm meals also had to be severely restricted.

In addition, the employees try to keep in touch with the parents through house calls.

Children's project Die Arche