Following the motto “Pilgrims of Hope”, during the Holy Year 2025, the Archdiocese of Berlin is also presenting twelve special places of hope, one per month. They may be special projects or targeted actions, but what they have in common is that they are places that radiate hope and are sparkles of hope for the people of Berlin, Brandenburg and Western Pomerania. The month of March is dedicated to the ecumenical social project “Welcome Baby Bags”. The focus of the Berlin project is the bags with the same name, created on the initiative of the “Evas Arche” ecumenical women’s centre. In this way, women and families affected, for example, by displacement, homelessness, illness or financial difficulties receive practical support and help to start a new life with their child. Each Welcome Baby Bag contains hygiene and care products for the mother and newborn, as well as baby clothes. The bags offer concrete and rapid help and are a first step towards other support and assistance services. “No mother can take care of or clothe her child with this bag for a long period of time, but it covers her needs for the first time after giving birth”, it is explained. The Archdiocese of Berlin is a partner in Evas Arche: the project is part of the state prevention programme Babylotse Berlin and is one of many national offers to support women and their babies.