The Tegernsee refugee accommodation is located directly on the shore.
25 children live there, they cannot swim.
The fact that a course is now taking place for them is a prime example of helpfulness and cooperation.
Tegernsee -
The Tegernsee Bastenhaus has become a refuge for 25 children and their families.
It is right on the Tegernsee, actually a dream.
But the children cannot swim, water is dangerous.
But now a course is taking place - thanks to private help and the best cooperation.
The Tegernsee management consultant Elke Benning-Rohnke usually rushes from appointment to appointment, but this summer there will be a few weeks break.
Some time to enjoy the lake at home.
While strolling along the bank, she met a group of women with children, residents of the Bastenhaus refugee shelter.
“None of them can swim, I thought to myself,” recalls Benning-Rohnke.
Spontaneously she decided to give the children a swimming course.
But she didn't really believe that the idea could be implemented.
“There are always so many bureaucratic hurdles for everything,” says the entrepreneur.
But she wanted to try - and had a surprise: A course was organized in no time at all.
"Sensational cooperation"
"Here at Tegernsee there are so many committed people and a sensational collaboration," states Benning-Rohnke. First she turned to the Tegernsee town hall. There she was put in touch with the district's integration officer, Max Niedermeier. He was enthusiastic and supported the commitment as much as possible. Veronika Bauer, head of the Tegernsee helper group, who looks after the residents of the bastion house, is also more than impressed. There are currently 25 children and just as many adults in the refugee accommodation. They come from Afghanistan, Syria, Jordan, Ukraine, Nigeria and Somalia. Because the children and adults cannot swim, the lake access at the house was sealed off. “Nevertheless, the greatest worry for all of us is that there could be a swimming accident,” explains Bauer.
DLRG Tegernsee teaches the children
It quickly became clear: From the authorities' side, nothing stands in the way of a swimming course.
But it was a matter of finding teachers.
Benning-Rohnke turned to the DLRG Tegernsee and was at the right address: Andreas and Marion Lange immediately agreed to teach children from the age of five.
The prerequisite is that a pool is also available - after the closure of the Wiesseer Badepark, a difficult point on the Tegernsee.
Here the readiness of the municipality of Rottach-Egern was asked to allow capacities in the Warmbad.
Vice-Mayor Josef Lang did not hesitate and gave the green light.
The course is now running.
Ten children between the ages of five and 13 take swimming lessons three times a week.
Younger people sometimes come with their mothers, but a course would be premature.
There are five girls and five boys, which Benning-Rohnke is particularly happy about.
"I was afraid that the girls would not be registered."
The swimming coaches need a lot of patience and empathy for their lessons.
Communication is a problem, but above all there is a lack of familiarity with the element of water.
In their homeland, the children never went to bathe.
“They are not used to it, which is why they tense up,” reports Lange.
But the children wanted to learn, so be eager to do it.
Course for the seahorse
In order to make rapid progress, the Lange couple brought in two instructors to supervise the course.
He will run until the warm bath closes in mid-September.
The hope is that as many children as possible receive the “Seahorse” badge at the end of the course.
Everyone will benefit.
Sponsor Benning-Rohnke not only pays for all costs, but also accompanies the little course participants on their way to the Warmbad by bus and brings them back again.
If the weather is too bad for the swimming pool, you can have an ice cream.
The manager likes to invest time and money: "We live so privileged, there has to be something inside."
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