Halle's childcare and youth centres face closure amid budget crisis
"Enough is enough! No more patience!" – Independent providers in Halle protest at midday Wednesday over missing funds as more facilities face closure
For now, daycare centers, youth clubs, and family support hubs in Halle (Saale) remain open. Their operators have been covering costs upfront, hoping the city's delayed funding would eventually arrive. But with no approved budget in place—the State Administrative Office granted an extension until April—providers are now running out of money. The first facilities, including Blauer Elefant, Grüne Villa, and the youth sports program of SG Buna, have already announced closures starting in March after exhausting their reserves. Others may hold out another month, but even they could soon be forced to shut their doors.
In response, staff, children, youth, and families will take to the streets in protest. On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at 1 p.m., a demonstration will begin in front of the city council on Market Square under the slogan "This paralysis is robbing our youth of their future." The call to action comes from the City Youth Council.
Independent providers and associations have received no funding due to the budget stalemate. "The city of Halle seems indifferent," reads a statement. "There's been no real sense of urgency—just a strategy of 'patience is strength,' extending deadlines with the State Administrative Office. Why? One could almost suspect this delay is intentional. Social institutions, including us at Wajut, have no choice but to pull the emergency brake and close."
Ultimately, it is children, young people, and families who suffer, losing what for many is a second home. "Of course, the city of Halle bears no blame—they tried. But effort alone isn't enough."
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