A Hotel with a Difference: The “Anne-Sophie” and its Staff
When Carmen Würth first drew up her concept of a place of communication and encounter for people with and without handicaps, the success of the project was quite uncertain. It required a great deal of commitment, confidence and perseverance – and it has paid off. Today, the Hotel-Restaurant Anne-Sophie is famous far beyond the borders of Künzelsau.
Idea and Concept
“The origin of this house and the underlying idea were not so much a “head” decision, but a matter of the heart … In fact, it is the result of an overbrimming heart, which, as you will know, for over 30 years now has understood the concerns and hardships of people who can only be reached with an open heart and mind.” This quote originates from Carmen Würth’s speech at the opening ceremony of the “Anne-Sophie” on 14 March 2003. And up until today, her initial motives have remained unchanged: she still strives for the enablement of handicapped people to achieve meaning and fulfilment in their lives, awakening appreciation for their needs in those not affected by handicaps, and the breakdown of barriers in everyday encounters.
Together with the “Beschützende Werkstätte”, the “sheltered workshop” charity organisation in Heilbronn/Ingelfingen, she developed a concept to teach catering trade operating procedures to handicapped people. The concept incorporates both professional and pedagogic supervision, and the hotel acts as an extension of the workshop. Working in close cooperation, support is provided for the sometimes astounding development of the handicapped in their daily interaction with each other, with the guests and with the demands of the working world. The ultimate goal is to qualify the participants of the sheltered workshop for long-term employment in the outside world.
