“Ready to learn something new?” Right before us stands the VHS Witten Wetter Herdecke. It is more than just a building. It is a place of lifelong learning for the citizens of Witten Wetter and Herdecke.
The VHS Witten Wetter Herdecke has a rich history. Its story began in 1919 when the Volkshochschule Witten was founded. The location was the aula of the Gerichtsschule. The city of Witten provided annual subsidies in the 1920s.
The global economic crisis hit hard. In the early 1930s Witten had to stop these payments. The last VHS Witten course took place in 1933 for the time being.
The VHS remained closed during the Nazi era. It was re-established in 1946. In 1963 the VHS moved into the Villa Friedrich Lohmann senior. The city of Witten took over the sponsorship of VHS Witten from the Volkshochschulverein in 1964.
The VHS Witten we know today came into being in 1977. It was created through the merger of several institutions. These were the Volkshochschule Witten the Volkshochschule Wetter founded in 1974 and the Volkshochschule Herdecke founded in 1948. They merged to form the Volkshochschulzweckverband Witten/Wetter/Herdecke.
Since the mid-1990s the VHS has used space in Annen. It is the former location of the Ostermann furniture store. This serves as a seminar center. The main office moved from Haus Witten to Annen in 2011. In late 2007 the VHS decided to establish a non-profit GmbH.
Sonja Leidemann was once the head of the VHS Witten Wetter Herdecke. This was from 1998 to 2004. Later she became the mayor of Witten from 2004 to October 2020.
The VHS Witten Wetter Herdecke offers a wide range of courses. These include courses in society politics culture and personality and nutrition. You can explore art and creativity or focus on health and wellness. Language courses and school qualifications are also available. They even provide training in IT and professional skills.
The VHS also runs two businesses that are publicly funded. This is done in cooperation with QuaBeD. These businesses are the Secondhandladen Tragbar and the Secondhand-Baumarkt Cap Baumarkt.
Looking for relaxation? The Yogarium is part of the VHS. It offers yoga and relaxation in many styles. As the only yoga center in the region it provides a unique opportunity. You can explore different yoga styles in one place. The focus is on well-being not acrobatics.
The VHS Witten Wetter Herdecke continues to evolve. It adapts to the changing needs of the community. It remains a vital center for learning and growth. Its commitment extends beyond traditional education. It is focused on the well-being and enrichment of the lives of local citizens.