In 2015, approximately 80,000 people fleeing war and persecution arrived in Berlin, and around 50,000 remained. This raises the question of how these people are received and what is offered to help them find their place in the city. Different reactions and attitudes can be observed within this immigrant society: On the one hand, there is widespread willingness to help, solidarity, and compassion for those who have sought refuge in Berlin from hardship and persecution. Many Berliners have taken on the task of welcoming the refugees with great commitment and passion. Language courses have been and continue to be organized, donations collected, and accommodations spontaneously provided. On the other hand, however, there are also fears, prejudices, and sometimes aggressive rejection of the newcomers to Berlin.
The seminar „Arrival and Reception – Questions for the Immigration Society“ was organized by the Stiftung wannseeFORUM together with their cooperation partners VHS City West and Border crossers I research and training The seminar aimed to raise awareness of the issue within the host society and to counteract prejudices. It was one of six seminars held nationwide via the [organization name missing]. German Adult Education Association (DVV) seminars offered as part of the special project „Migration and Asylum in Europe“ and were funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) and through the Berlin Senate Department for Education, Youth and Science.
Forty students from the seminar participated. Louise-Schroeder School From June 13th to 17th, the wannseeFORUM explored various facets of the immigration issue. During the week, the young people worked in five small artistic and media groups, each focusing on different aspects, and presented their results in a joint presentation in the ballroom of Charlottenburg Town Hall.
So the Photography group The students explored the concept of integration and compared their own ideas with various integration concepts to critically examine common perspectives. The program also included a field trip to the emergency shelter in the former Tempelhof airport building. There, they had the opportunity to ask a doctor about the situation of the refugees and learned how the people there are being helped. They then processed their impressions and discussion results in images, for each of which they chose a motto and presented it to the audience at the end:
In the Audio Group There was much discussion about societal fears regarding immigration and the origins of these fears. The role of the media was also critically examined. At one interview in the Contact and Advice Center for Refugees and Migrants (KuB) The group learned about the legal situation of refugees in Germany. Visit in the Emergency shelter Wichertstraße did they come with the residents and one social worker into conversation. The unambiguous Conclusion The group agrees: Facts can help to disprove prejudices. However, it is primarily the interaction itself that helps to reduce anxieties and create mutual understanding.
Even the Theatre group The workshop addressed prejudices against refugees and linked this to a debate on racism and civic courage. Starting with their own biographies, participants first visualized the diversity within their own group using the concept of the identity molecule. They then critically examined why "the refugees" are often referred to as a homogeneous group to whom certain characteristics are attributed. The workshop focused on the questions of when a statement is racist and how one can take a stand against it. Three [elements/concepts] were used for this purpose. poster designed:
An activist (among others, from [unclear]) was invited as a guest. Welcome to Oranienburg & corasol) with his own experience of being a refugee, who was able to give the students insights into the living situation and the significance of racism in the everyday lives of refugees. Also in a telephone conversation with an employee of the Mobile Counseling Against Right-Wing Extremism (MBR) Questions regarding the current threat situation and possibilities for acting with civil courage were discussed.
At the final presentation, the theatre group performed two scenes: one depicting a panel of experts in which the right-wing populist claims of a participant were refuted, and another showing a scene of discrimination at a market stall, where, in a second performance, a possibility for intervention by bystanders was demonstrated.
The Group drawing The group explored the accommodation and care of refugees in Berlin. For example, they measured their own seminar room and compared it to the space available in an emergency shelter. They also compared the amount of money available to refugees with their own expectations. An excursion took the group to the Wichertstraße emergency shelter, where a tour of the former gymnasium allowed them to gain firsthand insight into the living conditions. The students were visibly moved and criticized the cramped living conditions, but were simultaneously surprised by the openness and warmth of the residents and the high level of commitment shown by the staff. The refugees' stories, their paralyzing uncertainty about the future, the inadequate care, and the lack of privacy inspired them in their own work. Drawings, which they presented to the audience during the presentation.
The Rap group The seminar explored various forms and locations of protest by and for refugees. The focus was on rap lyrics and videos, which were analyzed to determine the messages they conveyed and how these messages were presented. This sparked diverse discussions about the background of the demands made within the videos. The lyrics, which the participants developed themselves during the seminar and performed in a collaborative song, address the arrival of a refugee, their reality in the country, and the reactions of the host society. The group also created their own [event/project/etc.]. Music video produced:
The Presentation of results, The presentation, to which the students and teachers of the Louise-Schroeder-School, as well as the district councilor for continuing education and culture, Dagmar König, and other guests were invited, took place on June 17, 2016, in the ballroom of the Charlottenburg Town Hall. The presentation also marked the conclusion of the three-part seminar series "Flight and Migration" with the entire 11th grade of the Louise-Schroeder-School, and results from the two previous seminars were presented. „Escape story(ies)“ and „Causes of flight“ The presentation was given. Around 200 spectators in the hall were impressed by what the students presented on stage, and the district councilor was convinced that if such events were held more often, there would be no need to worry about integration in Germany. We also hope that the seminar has provided a lasting impetus for shaping an immigration society and thank all those involved.
