Tegernseer Bastenhaus has been a refugee accommodation for a year - committed helpers

Created: 12/31/2021, 1:00 PM

From: Christina Jachert-Maier

The Tegernsee Bastenhaus has served as refugee accommodation for a year © Stefan Schweihofer

The Tegernsee Bastenhaus has been used as refugee accommodation for a year.

51 people live there, 24 of them are children.

Support is provided by a very active group of helpers.

Tegernsee -

At Christmas, Veronika Bauer and Sylvia Karpf, the coordinators of the Helferkreis, brought gifts to the Tegernsee Bastenhaus. The Gmunder Tafel delivered natural produce from Edeka Hollenbach in Waakirchen, the Inner Wheel Club Tegernsee donated winter clothing and toys, and the municipal building yard took care of the Christmas tree at the entrance to the accommodation. Many of the refugees are Christians, regardless of religion, all of the recipients were happy. Overall, says Bauer, the residents felt as comfortable in the accommodation as it is possible in their situation: “The house is spotless and bright, everyone has a bathroom and there is a decent kitchen.

Almost exactly a year ago, on December 14th, a single woman with a child was the first to move into the long-term refurbished former hotel right on the lake.

Little by little, more residents were added.

The refugee accommodation has been fully occupied since the summer.

The district office is responsible for looking after the asylum seekers, the allocation is made by the government of Upper Bavaria.

Waiting for the asylum procedure to be completed

51 people now live in the Bastenhaus, 24 of whom are children.

They come from Afghanistan, Syria, Jordan, Ukraine, Nigeria and Somalia.

The residents of the first hour still live here.

So far, there has only been a change in occupancy to bring families together.

All of the residents are still waiting for their asylum procedures to be completed.

If the outcome is positive, they can go looking for an apartment.

“It won't be easy,” says Huber.

Together with Sylvia Karpf, she coordinates a group of helpers that includes a good ten volunteers who work regularly, sometimes even on a daily basis, for the refugees.

There are also around 20 helpers who are temporarily available for driving services and the like.

No chance without language training

The need for support is great. Without special support, especially when learning the German language, the children would not have a chance at school, says Huber. “They don't learn any German in their families.” A strong network has emerged over the course of the year. The elementary school, which actually has no capacity for extra funding, does a lot on a voluntary basis. The Rotary Club finances German tutoring, and thanks to sponsors, the group of helpers was able to equip the children with laptops and headphones. Young migrants also receive special support in kindergarten. Volunteer picture books read to the little ones in the Bastenhaus to familiarize them with German. At least one child, according to Huber, also needs psychological care.

Supporting children is one of the priorities of the group of helpers, explains Huber. Another is German lessons for adults too. “That is the key to integration,” says Huber. The third focus: the search for work. In one case, this has now been successful. “One of the women got a job in the Bräustüberl,” reports Huber. Two other women would have a good chance of starting a paid job soon. Obtaining a work permit even before the asylum procedure is completed has become a little easier, explains the helper group coordinator. However, this also means a burden for the respective company, because complicated applications have to be made.

In the Bastenhaus, it's all about the time that comes after.

“It's all young people who still have their lives ahead of them,” says Huber.

Corona unfortunately massively restricts the work of the helpers: "But we make the best of it."

No festivals possible due to Corona

Celebrating together, whether at Christmas or at the beginning of the year, which Muslims celebrate, is not possible in the accommodation due to the pandemic.

"Here, too, requirements on contact restrictions must be adhered to," said a spokeswoman for the district office.

According to the security service, “no accumulations” have occurred in the accommodation so far.

The Christmas days were extremely quiet, the spokeswoman said.

To the knowledge of the supervisors, there are no plans for a New Year's celebration.

If you want to participate in the helpers group, you can send an email to helferkreis-tegernsee@tegsee.de.