Taking time for Ukraine refugees: Gmund convenes a round table

Created: 04/12/2022, 05:51

A sign in the colors of Ukraine saying "Welcome" can be seen at Munich Central Station.

© Sven Hoppe/dpa

Gmund – How should people who fled the Ukraine war be dealt with?

A round table in Gmund clarified these and other questions.

A round table on aid to Ukraine was recently held in Gmund.

Various topics were discussed at the meeting.

The round table was initiated because the administration in the town hall received some offers of help from Gmunders.

The meeting was organized in order to coordinate this and also coordinate with other organizations such as the circle of helpers.

"It was also important to us that we determine what is needed and what may not be," says a statement.

"It was important to hear this from those affected and hosts as well."

Citizens' office as a point of contact for advice

Present at the meeting were the volunteer coordinator for asylum, Lisa Richters, the district's integration officer, Max Niedermeier, representatives of the Asylum Helpers' Group, both pastors and Josef Stecher as a representative of the parish council, those affected and their hosts, Gmund citizens who offered help, and headmaster Susanne Riedl from the elementary school as well as representatives of the community and the head of the Gmunder Tafel.

"It was discussed that a room would be created that would serve as a meeting place for refugees," the administration also explains.

"There they should be able to exchange ideas, cook, eat together, network and so on." A kind of citizens' office should also be created as a contact point for advice.

The office should be staffed at certain times.

For example, it would be conceivable that Lisa Richters would come as a volunteer coordinator once a week to give advice.

Networking through the Asylum Helpers' Group

The future networking should develop automatically through the meeting, since contact persons and refugees can get to know each other there and then exchange telephone numbers or contacts if necessary.

The helper group for asylum should also try to establish a network, according to the statement.

At the time of the meeting, 37 people who had fled the Ukraine were registered in Gmund.

"Due to the fact that there is no obligation to report for the first 90 days, there are probably more," explains the administration.

"We expect around 80 refugees."

Medical care needed for Ukrainians

At the meeting it was reported that the refugees had been on the road for several days before they arrived at the first point of contact in Miesbach.

Sometimes medical care is needed there because the refugees are completely exhausted.

"We were told that it would be particularly important for the children to find a connection here as quickly as possible," explains the administration, be it in childcare or in the schools.

"Then the refugees definitely want to get a residence permit so that they can work as quickly as possible and stand on their own two feet," the municipality of Gmund also announced.

Every single citizen can help by donating so that the money can be used specifically for projects for the refugees.

It is also very important to spend time with the refugees, possibly with tasks such as filling out applications if they need help.

Public meeting place for refugees from Ukraine

The community will set up a public meeting place for refugees from Ukraine as soon as possible, where they can meet, exchange ideas and also find out about offers.

The room should have a kitchen so that they can cook there and eat together.

The community has also set up a donation account.

The bank details for the donation account are: Municipality of Gmund am Tegernsee, IBAN: DE76711525700000302034, Kreissparkasse Tegernsee.

Please enter the keyword "Ukraine".

Further information on aid to Ukraine is also available online at www.gemeinde.gmund.de.