Children from the Ukraine quickly make friends in Karlsfeld

Created: 03/22/2022, 05:59 am

Vice President Margreth Außenlechner explains how to use the iPad to the children from the Ukraine.

© Simone Wester

In the German class for beginners at the middle school in Karlsfeld, refugee children from the Ukraine learn the new language in no time.

Karlsfeld – Ivan and Anja (names changed) were able to escape the turmoil of war in Ukraine.

Since last week, the two twelve-year-olds have been going to middle school in Karlsfeld - and quickly made friends.

Anja, who comes from a suburb of Kyiv, has found safe accommodation with her mother and little brother in Karlsfeld with relatives, and Ivan, who had to witness the bombing of Kharkiv, stayed with his mother with a host family in Dachau.

In Karlsfeld they are now trying to build a new life for themselves.

At least until they can go home to Ukraine.

Educators in Karlsfeld have experience in caring for refugees

The teachers at the middle school in Karlsfeld have a lot of experience with children who are torn from their familiar surroundings, including children and young people from war zones.

In the German class for beginners, in which Anja and Ivan have been teaching since last week, the two are warming up.

With iPads, they learn new letters and words every day with the help of special apps and start with simple sentences for everyday life.

In the first week there are four school hours a day, then this is increased to six hours.

Ivan and Anja are accompanied by an interpreter.

Kristina Logvynska is a student, lives in Karlsfeld and is currently on semester break.

Volunteering at the school is a matter of course for them.

She will accompany them until the end of April and support class teacher Natasha Baumann.

By the way: everything from the region is also available in our regular Dachau newsletter.

The school family gave away a welcome pack to the new students with a gym bag, pencil case, pens, pads and more.

The municipality of Karlsfeld generously supported this project.

Vice President Margreth Ausserlechner also gave Ivan and Anja an iPad.

"This allows them to learn independently at their own pace," explains the experienced teacher.

The school family in Karlsfeld has so far managed to do everything from its own resources and has always managed to integrate the children and young people quickly.

However, Rector Hakan Öczan is curious to see how the situation will develop.

He found out from the school authorities that around 500 pupils from the Ukraine are to be integrated in the entire Dachau district.

And that with a “staff cover that already has holes”, as Vice President Margreth Ausserlechner describes.

Ivan and Anja made contact within a few days.

They play with their classmates during the break and with their host families with the children of the neighbours.

Öczan and his team of teachers have often noticed that the new children are very quiet at first.

After some time, the students begin to open up.

"We try to make it as comfortable as possible for them," emphasizes Öczan.

Twelve-year-old Anja warms up in swimming lessons.

At least for a while she can put her war experiences behind her and just be a child.

SIMONE WESTER