About MINE

From a handful of local spaces in 1980s Germany to over 1,000 centers worldwide — Mother Centers empower families, rebuild communities, and make care visible.

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The story of Mother Centers began in the early 1980s in Germany, as a grassroots response to the growing isolation of mothers in modern society. At a time when traditional family structures were shifting and communities were becoming less connected, a bold idea emerged: to create open, welcoming spaces where mothers and families could find mutual support, share everyday experiences, and build meaningful relationships.

From these beginnings, the Mother Center concept quickly spread — first throughout Germany, then across Europe and beyond. Driven by the principle that “it takes a village to raise a child,” Mother Centers began appearing in diverse settings: from small local cafés to multi-service hubs offering childcare, skills training, and advocacy. Despite different shapes and names, they shared a common vision: to empower families, rebuild local communities, and bring the culture of care into public life.

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To connect and amplify these efforts, MINE — the Mother Centers International Network for Empowerment — was founded. MINE strengthens solidarity among centers, supports knowledge exchange, and advocates for family-friendly policies on a global scale. In 2002, MINE received the UN-Habitat Dubai Award for Best Practices, recognizing its impact in revitalizing neighborhoods and giving grassroots women a voice in public life.

From the first mothers’ groups in Munich to vibrant centers across continents today, our story is one of resilience, shared purpose, and the power of community. What began as a simple act of connection has grown into a worldwide movement — by families, for families.

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Vision

We envision a world where care is recognized as a cornerstone of society, where mothers and caregivers are supported and empowered, and where every neighborhood is a place of connection, belonging, and mutual aid.

Mission

MINE (Mother Centers International Network for Empowerment) strengthens and connects Mother Centers globally. We support the founding, sustainability, and visibility of centers, encourage community-led solutions, and bring the voices of grassroots women and families into local and global decision-making

Mother Centers bring women and families into center stage and support them in building their confidence and ability to help themselves and each other. They re-integrate the culture of care into public life.
Mother Centers have an impact on many levels: influence the quality of parenting and family relations as well as of neighbourhoods, contribute to social cohesion and integration in communities as well as bringing a grassroots voice to local governance.

Mother Centers worldwide are grassroots, self-organized communities, supporting mothers, families on a daily basis. Experience shows that mother centers were the answer to a historical need of mothers in the 1970th. They are still spreading around the world. They represent another kind of globalization: a globalization from the ground. This had produced the need for a global network. So MINE was born.