Notfallnummer: Berlin: 0174 - 744 92 99 Hamburg: 0151 - 211 019 01
Association for the Help and Support of Victims of Sexual Abuse & Violence, e.V., "El Faro"
Welcome
As a victim protection association founded for and by survivors of sexualised violence, we have set out to help victims of sexualised violence to find their way back into their lives.
A traumatic experience, whether it happened recently or in the distant past, always leaves deep traces - especially, but not only, in the soul of the person concerned. In most cases, all areas of life are affected by the long-term consequences, psychosomatic symptoms and corresponding clinical pictures are added, proven compensation possibilities are exhausted sooner or later, and complications also arise in the social environment.
This is especially true if the trauma was experienced by the family or the immediate environment at development age or, in the worst case, if it continues into adulthood due to further threats and assaults.
The emotional world is upside down, the relationship to one's own body is disturbed, trust in fellow human beings and even in oneself is severely violated. Social contacts suffer and the consequences can be so far-reaching that a job can no longer be pursued due to the psychological strain.
We see our task in meeting the people where they stand in the healing stage of their experienced trauma in order to support them on their individual way back into life as a guide and companion.
Often unexpected possibilities arise on this path. New doors of self-knowledge open up and a broader perspective on life can become apparent. It can even be possible to transform a personally experienced misery into a mission in which one's own path becomes an enlightenment and help for others.
Our services
Trauma-sensitive, holistic counselling and support that is suitable for everyday life is particularly close to our hearts - you and your needs, which you require for your individual life situation, are at the centre of our attention.
Individual counselling Are you affected yourself or are you looking for help for someone close to you? Is your trauma resurfacing and you are looking for a way to deal with it and for deeper understanding? You are in an acute crisis or threatening situation? You do not know who to turn to? We support you in your individual life situation and on all questions.
Breaking off contact with the perpetrator is possible Regardless of whether there is an acute or long-term threat from the perpetrator, we will support you with our expertise based on personal experience, many years of experience in victim protection work, as well as specialised training in trauma and psychosomatics - both anonymously and on a case-by-case basis.
Strong together Mutual support to find ways of dealing with one's own life situation and the long-term consequences of abuse. Strong together, through exchange of experience and help for self-help.
Networking, lectures & training Bundling of competences and broad practical experience help to support affected persons in a safer and more ideal way. We advise, support, supplement and pass on our experience - also in the form of training courses - in an affected-oriented manner.
Meeting place for victims, professionals and interested people. We meet for exchange, events, support groups, seminars and personal counselling in crisis situations, as well as for all questions concerning sexualised violence by the family or the immediate environment.
Insights into the House of Shame where models are used to portray the life of an incest victim in all its facets up to adulthood. Guided tours are only possible with an appointment and prior discussion and only in the company of our professionally trained team.
How much is allowed, how much is necessary? In this highly emotional field, this is a tightrope walk, so that we, as people who have been affected ourselves and the very demanding work in victim protection, would like to meet the desire of those affected for clarity and breaking taboos. Only through clarity and knowledge of the perpetrator's strategies, coupled with the deep imprints that lead to perpetrator-victim reversal, further severe long-term consequences and stigmatisation, do those af
Lectures and workshops Current event dates for information and workshops for those affected, professionals and interested parties.
Destiny to mission as a perspective Specialised training courses on sexualised violence in developmental age, psychosomatics as a serious trauma sequelae disorder and a self-defence and aggression building training are the result of 25 years of practical experience and the cooperation with the Berlin Heilpraktiker Fachschule.
Media presence on TV, podcast, in videos and blog posts It is our urgent concern to give those affected as well as the topic the voice it needs to have in the public consciousness in order to improve the conditions for those affected and to make prevention possible. Mostly in German at the moment.
Thoughts & Exchange Are you looking for exchange with other affected people and do you find it difficult to talk? Then the online forum offers a framework for this and can be a first step towards opening up. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Only available in German at the moment.
Questions & answers Information on the topic of sexualised violence for victims and interested parties from the perspective of personal experience and the practical experience of victim support. Coming soon in English
About us
As survivors of sexualised violence at a developmental age by our own families and close relatives, we have joined together as a victim protection association in order to develop an emphatic and competent concept for practical and everyday help for self-empowerment and support, with the wish to pass this on in an impact-oriented way.
Humanity
trauma-sensitive and safe
We know about the essential and often most difficult factor for the affected people of breaking off contact with the perpetrator and protecting the victim.
A correspondingly trauma-sensitive and individual approach to the survivors is particularly close to our hearts, as we know from our own experiences how many external and also internal hurdles have to be overcome in order to take the first step.
Experience expertise
victim-oriented and holistic
In the area of developmental traumatisation, the most individual symptoms and late effects manifest themselves on the psychological, physical and mental level.
The corresponding effects in the social environment are further consequences. This explains how diverse the demands on our counselling and support activities are.
For this reason, personal experience and specialised training are the pillars of our team.
Competence and network
from psychosomatics to victim protection
The main team members of the association have completed training as alternative practitioners with a focus on psychosomatics, as well as various trauma-specific further training courses, in order to be able to provide universal first aid in voluntary work on such a sensitive and often dangerous topic, as well as to accompany medium- and long-term processes safely and competently in all areas.
An additional valuable supplement is provided by the basic medical professions of some of the staff members. For all other areas, we have a network that has been built up over many years and is constantly growing.
Especially in the area of victim protection, which brings our staff between the front lines of perpetrators and victims, we require sound specialised training and competence.
Thus we are very diversely positioned and can react to the respective individual needs and dangerous situations in an affected-oriented and uncomplicated way.
Guide and support
the focus is on the individual
Help and safety for the individual seeking help are at the centre of our work and we see ourselves as a "soul guide" and companion on your personal path.
If so wished for we will support you anonymously. We also work closely with the existing help network if you wish and need it, or we can help to build it up.
Our commitment
a matter of honour
In our victim protection work, we are committed with heart and great passion. We finance ourselves from donations and from our own resources. In addition to our help, counselling and protection services, our commitment also includes education and public relations work.
It is a matter close to our hearts to bring not only the topic, but first and foremost those affected out of the taboo and stigmatisation, so that help and opening up for the victims of sexual violence, especially within the family and the immediate environment, becomes as natural and transparent as it never was for them in the world of the perpetrators. After all, they have always experienced their suffering as "normality" through the perpetrators.
For us, it is clear that only through the most important building block, showing the reality, through the wealth of experience of the survivors, can real and sustainable professionalism, help, education, prophylaxis and protection become possible.
Practical experience shows how often the origin of a current sexualised violence incident can be found in childhood and adolescence and represents the root for other contexts.
In combination with networking and the pooling of knowledge from the different areas of the topic, concepts can be developed in the justice, aid and health systems that meet the diverse needs for help.
Online Vorträge 2025
Kostenlos, 18 - 20 Uhr
27. März
Konfrontation in der Aufarbeitung
Befreiung oder Belastung?
26. Juni
Rückkehr zum TäterIn
Wie gefährlich ist das wirklich?
18. September
Bedeutung der Opferrolle
Selbstschutz, Gefängnis oder Ausstieg?
11. Dezember
Selbsthärte und Selbstliebe
zwei Gegenpole, die viel miteinander verbindet
Wir bitten um rechtzeitige Anmeldung:
030 - 35 13 50 94
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