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Question: The opening of the children's holiday home at Finca C’an Llompart marks the conclusion of the second stage in the work of the Peter Maffay Foundation, following the completion of the Foundation House in Pollenca last year. What perspectives does this open up?
» Linking up with other organizations that already have positive experiences and are active in this area, for example. We would like to exchange views with therapists, doctors and researchers from a variety of different fields and institutions. Our aim is to bring together people from completely different academic and social backgrounds, for example medicine, art, business or science. We want to create synergies that can be used for the benefit of the children.
Question: The figure of Tabaluga is now at the centre of its own little world, a world full of music and stories, but one which also has a concrete, positive effect on children
» I think the establishment of the Peter Maffay Foundation in Mallorca belongs in this context. One of its aims is to offer alternative therapy opportunities for traumatized children, for instance at our Finca in Mallorca, where the kids can work on the farm. Looking after animals and being close to nature has a stabilizing effect on the children's mental state. They gradually regain their self-confidence.
Question: Do guests on the Finca have to work?
» (laughing) No. They can join in and work on the Finca if they want to. We aim to stimulate the children in ways that are quite new to them. When they're in Spain, it makes sense for them to learn something of the language, the cuisine and the culture. Dipping your toes in the Mediterranean is fun, but pulling up turnips can be fun, too.
Question: What connection is there between the work of the Foundation and the Tabaluga tales on the four concept albums?
» Working on Tabaluga has had a strong influence on me. No one can sing of a better world without wanting to change reality, which children often find painful. The fact is that the "Tabaluga" theme has become more and more established among children and all those who have never really grown up. Put more concretely: the contents are frequently used, for instance in schools and pre-school groups. This means that the social significance of the content is approached from different points of view. Issues such as ecology, coexistence, tolerance and respect in one's attitude to other people and to nature are directly addressed. This has led to our decision to start the work of the Foundation together with friends, which is a way of familiarizing children with these issues in a practical way. Within the Foundation we try to use the means available to us carefully, in order to achieve maximum efficiency while at the same time avoiding loud posturing.
Question: What influence does the Mediterranean location on Mallorca have on the work of the Foundation?
» The way of life is different. The children can learn a lot from our Mallorcan friends. For example, families are more close-knit than we are used to. There is no such thing as a useless person. Each member of the family knows something or can do something that the others don't know or can't do, or they have some particular talent. And so everyone helps everyone else, they all learn from each other.
Question: What will be more important to you in the future, music or the Foundation?
» The Foundation. That doesn't mean I intend to give up music. Whether I'll still be making music in ten years, I don't know…
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02. Oktober 2010 Hoffest und Tag der offenen Tür 2010 read more 18. Mai 2010 Maffay Begegnungen - Symposium 2010 read more 10. Februar 2010 The Foster-Central Trip to Majorca: A Report to Peter Maffay read more |
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