Every child has a voice
and every story has a place
Multilingual Daycare Cologne
Kindergan is a warm, safe, and professional educational-community framework for early childhood, built on international experience in kindergartens and a deep connection to values, languages, and cultures in Israel.
Every child is given a sense of security and is accompanied hand in hand—from their first steps to discovering the world around them—to nurture curiosity. In a diverse daily routine, the language and culture of each family meet naturally, and each child’s uniqueness becomes their strength. This way, children grow in a stable, curious, and empowering environment, prepared for the future.
The First Branch
Diverse, Personalized Education for Your Child
Are you looking for more than just care and supervision for your child? A warm and professional network of kindergartens that provides values, quality, and a strong emotional and cognitive foundation for your child's development?
At Kindergan, your child grows in a safe, warm, and open environment. Our kindergartens operate in the spirit of context-aware diverse kindergarten—an educational approach developed at the Nevet incubator at the Hebrew University.
At the center are the children, with emphasis on each one’s uniqueness and the environment in which they grow. We integrate academic knowledge with daily life in the kindergarten. This way, we encourage curiosity, strengthen social skills, foster independence and conflict-resolution abilities—and above all, view diversity as a true resource. We maintain respectful treatment and attention to small details—quality that is felt every day.
The kindergarten serves as a training site and living laboratory for research and training for the Schwartz Program for Early Childhood at the Hebrew University. The educational staff is professional, dedicated, and academically trained, operating under pedagogical guidance from child development experts and students in training. In such an environment, children receive security and inspiration. They explore, experiment, and discover their path—and grow at a pace that suits them personally, so they have strong roots and open wings.
The Environment Matters
Our educational centers operate with the local community and neighborhood where they are located. We call this: context-aware kindergarten. For example: Is a mother from the kindergarten a judge? Come with your robe and guide us through the courthouse! Is there a nursing home down the street? Let’s spend time with them so they won’t be lonely! Is there a carpenter with a workshop next door? Invite him to the kindergarten—we want to learn from him how to work with wood!
A Community with Emphasis on Quality
An African proverb says: It takes a whole village to raise a child. At Kindergan, we create such a village—a place where children grow in an atmosphere of closeness and respect, and families find a listening ear and genuine support. Regular quality checks and clear standards ensure that your child receives optimal educational guidance—every single day.
Eating with All the Senses
We serve balanced, delicious, and kosher meals to the children, according to recommendations from leading dietitians. Fresh ingredients and an abundance of fruits and vegetables make healthy nutrition a natural and joyful part of everyday life.
Diversity Strengthens
We live values of respect, openness, and social cohesion. A diverse kindergarten is a place where every child is allowed to be who they are—with connection to their roots and curiosity about the world around them.
Inclusion
Here, every child is welcomed with love—regardless of origin, social status, or special needs. We create an environment where every child is part of the community, feels a sense of belonging, and can develop freely.
Family at the Center
Kindergan is more than just a daycare, kindergarten, and after-school program. In our educational centers, connections, collaborations, and mutual support are formed. This way, children grow not only within the kindergarten framework but also within a vibrant, living network of families and friends.
What Does the Name "Kindergan" Mean?
In the 19th century, the first early childhood education frameworks were established in Germany, many by Jewish educators. The term kindergarten was born to express the idea of organic and natural growth of the child. From there, the term entered Hebrew through English.
Our name, Kindergan, combines foreign and Hebrew elements, recalling the history of early childhood education in Israel and worldwide. Beyond that, the word “kinder” in English also carries the meaning of gentleness, softness, and consideration—a clear hint at the culture of communication and conduct we believe in. At Kindergan, there is no place for violence, shouting, or insensitivity. We believe in education based on respect for the child, listening, and empathy. Day by day. In small moments as well as large ones.
Our Branches
Where the Journey Begins
After twenty years of experience operating kindergartens in Germany, we are opening in summer 2026 our pilot in Jerusalem. Together with the Hebrew University, we aim to expand our activities in the coming years to many cities and all sectors in Israel. Interested in having Kindergan in your neighborhood as well? Write to us at: post@kindergan.co.il.
Jerusalem - Givat Ram
Parent Voices
We thank you for the trust you place in us every day. Your feedback as parents is very important to us. We conduct parent surveys regularly and listen attentively. From you, we learn where we are already doing well and where there is still room for improvement.
Since our pilot in Israel will only open in summer 2026, we have not yet collected feedback from local parents. However, we would be happy to share with you impressions from Israeli parents whose children attended our kindergartens in Cologne, Germany.
הצטרפנו לגן בעיר קלן בגרמניה בשנת 2019. בתור הורים ישראלים טריים שעשו רילוקיישן לצורכי עבודה לגרמניה, הגן של rainbowtrekkers היה פשוט הצלה בשבילנו. הגן היה מאוד בינלאומי ואפשר היה לתקשר בשפה האנגלית, וגם הצוות היה מאוד מכיל ומגוון. הרמה הייתה גבוהה מאוד והצוות היה אכפתי וחם, ולכן הילדים היו שמחים מאוד להגיע כל בוקר לגן. יש לנו רק מילים טובות לומר על הגן, מומלץ בחום
יואב אלקיס, אבא
As Israeli parents in Germany who became parents for the first time, it was important for us to find a framework for our daughter that we could trust wholeheartedly—and we found much more than that. Yoel’s kindergarten was for us a place of security, calm, and joy. A highly professional, attentive, and caring staff, with genuine sensitivity to both children and parents. From the very first moment, we felt that there was someone who truly sees our daughter, listens to her, accompanies her, and encourages her to develop at her own pace.
Lior Schott, father
The speed at which we felt at home and the high standard of the kindergarten and staff exceeded our expectations: the content delivered, the activities, the quality of the staff, the atmosphere in the kindergarten itself and in the yard – everything at the highest level.
Naama Roth, Mother
We always found a listening ear, openness and respectful dialogue, and this was no less meaningful to us. Knowing that our daughter is in safe, good and loving hands – there is nothing more reassuring than that. We had a pleasant, precise and trusting experience, and we can wholeheartedly recommend the kindergarten with great love.
Avihu Mizan, Father
AAA
Yoav Elkis, Father
AAA
Shamia Taon, Staff
A New Standard for Kindergarten Interior Design
A Kindergarten That Feels Good to Be In—Every Day
A place where children spend many hours each day needs to feel pleasant and inviting. A place that is fun to be in. A place that feels safe.
We brought our indoor play equipment from the leading Montessori furniture manufacturer abroad. And everything, of course, is in accordance with and approved by the Israeli Standards Institute for safety. The equipment is specially adapted for young children. With them, we are setting a new standard for kindergarten design in Israel.
Our design first and foremost considers the child’s needs. For us, health is part of the design. The spaces are built to encourage well-being, movement, comfort, and wellness—for children and adults alike.
The kindergarten features child-friendly furniture and play equipment that stimulates the senses. Everything invites exploration, curiosity, and independent learning. Calm colors, acoustic insulation, and quiet areas create a peaceful atmosphere. This prevents sensory overload and gives children space to relax when needed.
Our goal is simple: an environment that fosters growth, creativity, and emotional security. An ideal place for play—and to feel at home.
Social Entrepreneur, New Immigrant, and the Face Behind Kindergan
Joel's Story
Joel Mertens immigrated to Israel several years ago with his family, driven by a clear vision: to create high-quality educational environments for children in Israel, where they can grow, learn, and feel at home. A father of five children who grew up and were educated in kindergartens he established in Germany, Joel brings with him rich experience, a passion for education, and a belief in the power of a nurturing educational environment.
When his first daughter arrived, Joel searched for a quality kindergarten—but did not find one. Instead of compromising, he decided to create one himself. This gave rise to the opportunity to provide children with a warm, enriching, and supportive environment that prepares them for a life full of experiences and meaningful learning.
Today, his company rainbowtrekkers operates three kindergartens in Germany, serving approximately 160 children and employing about 50 dedicated staff members. Two additional kindergartens are under development and are expected to provide approximately 160 more quality educational places. Joel continues to lead the organization’s development and educational quality, while daily management is carried out by professional management teams at each kindergarten.
With over 20 years of experience in recruiting, developing, and leading educational teams, working with the Ministry of Education and local authorities, and active involvement in professional organizations—Joel brings a rare combination of professionalism, systemic vision, and human warmth. He is a member of the German Kindergarten Association in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, a board member of the Cologne regional group, and serves as chairman of the board of the Early Childhood Education Support Association. In addition, he is a partner in the “Diverse Kindergarten” project at the Hebrew University and continues to promote quality and diverse education.
Yoel believes in creating workplaces where kindergarten teachers and managers feel valued, secure, and comfortable—because a staff that feels good is the foundation for children’s well-being and growth. And now, this vision is coming to Israel as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Want to know more about Kindergan's diverse kindergartens and educational centers? Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions from parents who contact us.
What ages are the children in your kindergarten?
We accept children from 15 months to compulsory kindergarten age. Our educational centers have separate daycare and kindergarten classes. Classes are divided by age and developmental stages, so each child receives guidance that is exactly suited to the stage they are in—calmly, securely, and with personal attention. At a young age, we place special emphasis on a gradual adjustment process in full partnership with parents, to allow each child to start at their own pace, with a sense of security and belonging. For older children, there is a dedicated school preparation program that playfully stimulates curiosity about language, mathematics, and natural sciences, and develops each child’s personal abilities. In the gym and outdoor yard, there are opportunities for multi-age play and learning.
What languages are spoken in your kindergartens?
The languages the child brings from home. The dominant language in the kindergarten is adapted to the environment: in Jewish neighborhoods—Hebrew, in Arab neighborhoods—Arabic, and in mixed cities, both together. In an international environment, such as a university campus, English can also serve as a connecting language.
Research shows time and again that children learn the language of the country better when their mother tongue is not suppressed. For these children, languages like French, Russian, or Amharic are an asset, not an obstacle. A context-aware approach makes room in the kindergarten for the diversity of languages according to the child’s needs.
What does a typical day look like in your kindergartens?
The day in the kindergarten follows a steady and clear rhythm. A rhythm that gives children security and orientation—and leaves plenty of room for play, movement, and discovery. We begin the morning with arrival and a shared breakfast. Then we gather in a circle and open the day together.
Afterward, the children play, draw, build, sing, create, and explore—both with teacher guidance and freely. Indoors and outdoors. We go out to play in the yard every day. For us, there is no bad weather—only inappropriate clothing.
How do you ensure educational quality?
Our fieldwork is regularly reviewed—both by our managers and by external auditors. Through professional development, parent and child surveys, and open dialogue within the team, we continue to improve constantly. We take our responsibility seriously. Therefore, we share our goals and organizational structure openly—because true quality is based on trust and transparency.
How can I register my child?
If you are interested in a place for your child at one of our centers, please click here.