{"id":5959,"date":"2022-04-22T20:11:22","date_gmt":"2022-04-22T18:11:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/?p=5959"},"modified":"2022-04-22T20:11:22","modified_gmt":"2022-04-22T18:11:22","slug":"a-yellow-and-blue-welcome-to-berlin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/svjmedia.nl\/internationaljournalism\/5959\/a-yellow-and-blue-welcome-to-berlin\/","title":{"rendered":"A yellow and blue welcome to Berlin"},"content":{"rendered":"

Inhabitants of Berlin are welcoming Ukrainian refugees like a role model of the \u201cGerman welcoming culture\u201d. Since the war in Ukraine started over 300,000 refugees came already to Germany. Of how tango connects throughout countries, volunteers spend their time waiting at the train station and scout camps turned into refugee accommodation. How Berliners help.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOn the second or third evening we already danced Tango in the living room\u201d, Christine tells about the first time with her guest. Mariya* was born and raised in Kiev, after her marriage she moved to Crimea. Five weeks ago she arrived in Berlin, as around 60,000 other Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war and finding help in Berlin. Christine and Mariya have one great connection \u2013 they are both part of the tango dancing community. Via a Facebook group where tango dancers help other tango dancers Christine from Berlin got to know about Mariya and that she is looking for accommodation. After ten days of texting, Mariya arrived at the four-room flat of Christine in Berlin, Kreuzberg. \u201cIn the beginning she was really humble. She asked: \u2018Can I take a little \"\"bit of this juice or may I make myself another bread?\u2019 Over time it got better, she also eats more now. In the beginning she almost ate nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Christine used to work as a nurse and is retired now. She never hosted a refugee before. This time when the war in the Ukraine began, she told herself: \u201cI have time, I have a little space, I can at least host someone at home.\u201d And not only this: Now that her guest is here she also always tries to connect her with other people in Berlin and help her financially. \u201cI sent 62 WhatsApp and Facebook messages and with this and the help of the Tango community we were able to gather 1070\u20ac\u201d, Christine smiles. The reactions of people in Christine\u2019s environment are overall really positive when she tells them about hosting a refugee. \u201cI get a lot of help of my environment. We were able to collect Tango shoes for her. The people are really generous.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Green vests and yellow stickers<\/strong><\/p>\n

On this Friday afternoon at 4:42 pm there is a train arriving from Prague to Berlin central station. The community of volunteers already wait for this train as many Ukrainian refugees are expected to be in this train. A green safety jacket identifies the volunteers. Their name and the languages they speak are on a little patch on the jacket. If they have a yellow sticker it means that this person speaks Ukrainian. David is ready to help, he waits till someone needs his help. \u201cIt\u2019s the fifth time that I volunteer here. There are a lot fewer people arriving then they did in the beginning. Everything had to be fast when the war started and the first people arrived. All these posters and signs you can see here were handwritten, we had to improvise.\u201d, David is pointing at a yellow and blue sign that says on where to go to get free tickets and food in Ukrainian, English and French. David doesn\u2019t speak Ukrainian but still wants to help.<\/p>\n

Following the signs down the corridor the refugees will find a \u201chelping centre\u201d where volunteers and employees of \u201cDeutsche Bahn\u201d await them already. On the left there are volunteers coaching new volunteers, followed by two stands of Deutsche Bahn where Ukrainian refugees get free ticket to travel to other parts of Germany. On the right side Children stand in front of a desk covered in toys, waiting for a volunteer to give them toys to play with and colours to draw. Free food and drinks are provided, volunteers provide flyers with further information and have conversations with families. All the volunteers have to be briefed and present a negative covid test when they want to help. A covid test station at the helping centre gives them the opportunity to get there test every day.<\/p>\n\n\t\t