“Family Week” runs from May 11–15
2026/05/05
Anyone who cares for children, supports relatives in need of care, or takes responsibility for others manages far more than everyday life. The “Week of the Family” uses various international awareness and action days as an opportunity to bring greater public attention to these often invisible forms of care work.
In mid-May, several international awareness days draw attention to aspects of everyday life that are essential yet often taken for granted: caregiving, care work, support, and family responsibilities. They highlight both the people who take on these responsibilities and the challenges of balancing care obligations with other areas of life.
As part of the “Week of the Family,” a number of international action days focus on these issues, including the Day of Childcare on May 11, International Nurses Day on May 12, and the International Day of Families on May 15. Together, they emphasize how vital care work is to many people’s lives — and how often it remains overlooked, including in the context of higher education.
At universities, there is often an expectation that performance can be delivered independently of private responsibilities. For students and employees with family responsibilities, however, this is not always straightforward. Anyone caring for children, supporting relatives in need of care or taking on other care responsibilities often has to manage their studies, work or academic career under particular organisational, time-related and personal pressures. This makes it even more important to make these realities visible and to raise awareness of the need for greater understanding and supportive conditions.
Support for families at TU Darmstadt
The Family Service at TU Darmstadt supports students and employees in balancing their studies, work or academic careers with care responsibilities. It provides information on topics such as childcare and caring responsibilities, offers individual advice and helps students and staff find the support and information that may be relevant to their situation. The Family Service also supports efforts to improve family-friendly spaces and infrastructure on campus.
Students with children also receive specific support from Service point part-time studies, studying with children.
Family Week Program of Darmstadt City
As part of Family Week, the Wissenschaftsstadt Darmstadt is is offering a diverse program for children, teens, and families under the theme “Family is Diversity”, featuring numerous events and activities from May 11–15, 2026. It’s definitely worth stopping by!
Location: Citycenter/ Ludwigsplatz + former McDonald’s (Ernst-Ludwig-Straße 26)
Family at TU Darmstadt
At Technical University of Darmstadt, family is understood in a deliberately broad sense. It includes all communities in which people take long-term responsibility for each other — regardless of whether people are caring for children, supporting relatives in need of care or taking on other care responsibilities. TU Darmstadt is committed to creating a supportive environment that meets the needs of different families and gives greater visibility to the many realities of life at the university.
