They give refugees a voice: the German teachers from the DZIF
Created: 11/26/2022, 4:00 p.m
By: Michaele Heske
Dorette Sprengel received 2000 euros for the DZIF (centre) from (from left) Brigitte Götz, Alfred Scheb, Sosa Balderanou and Margareta Speckmeier from “Wir – in Erding”.
© Michaele Heske
At the DZIF, 100 people from 60 countries are learning the German language.
This is supported by two organizations with donations.
Dorfen
– The importance of the Dorfen Center for Integration and Family has been shown again right now, in the middle of the Ukraine war: With the arrival of new refugees, the DZIF was faced with new challenges – so donations are immensely important.
The associations “Freunde des Jakobmayer” and “Wir – in Erding” presented checks to the value of 2,500 and 2,000 euros to DZIF chairmen Dorette Sprengel and Klaus Ramme.
Because of wars and crises, people lose their homes.
"In this situation, organizations like us are of central importance for living together," said Ramme.
“We were one of the first course providers to offer a German course for Ukrainian refugees.
The course started on April 25 with 23 participants,” Sprengel added.
The DZIF covered the costs for the first textbook, as well as the expenses for the caregivers of the children.
The next course started two months later, and two more teaching units are currently running.
"We are very grateful for the generous support," said Sprengel.
2500 euros from the friends of Jakobmayer (from left): Chairman Walter Eschle, Dorette Sprengel, Klaus Ramme, Hans Weilnhammer and Michael Utschneider.
© Michaele Heske
In the twelfth year of its existence, the DZIF is still on course for growth and it needs further support.
Around 100 people from almost 60 countries are currently attending the courses on the premises of the DZIF on Siemensstrasse.
There you will learn German up to language level B2 under the guidance of qualified teachers.
With this knowledge, the participants are fit for everyday life in Germany and for the job market.
Three new teachers have strengthened the teaching staff since this spring.
Like all teachers, they are certified by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF).
The facility was on the verge of closure at the end of 2020.
Because of Corona, the association had little opportunity to offer its German courses, with which the center had previously been financed.
As of December 1, 2020, all face-to-face events in the field of adult education were cancelled.
This broke away the income that was needed for rent and salaries.
In March 2021, a new board saved the center
Sosa Balderanou, integration officer of the CSU in the district, has also observed this development. The Taufkirchen native has been involved in migration and integration work for 30 years and already visited the DZIF in the summer.
On behalf of the working group “We – for the district of Erding”, Balderanou handed over a check for 2,000 euros to the DZIF.
She also has a migration background, said the district councilor with Greek roots: "I learned German in kindergarten." It is important to her that children learn German at a very early age.
"Language is the key to success," she said.
Michael Utschneider, Treasurer of the Jakobmayer Friends, put it almost exactly the same way.
The last performance of “Cavalleria Rusticana”, staged by Opera Incognita in May, went for the benefit of Ukrainian refugees.
"The war of aggression, the Ukrainian refugees who have been living here in Dorfen since then - that affected us all very much, so we just wanted to help," said Vice-Chairman Hans Weilnhammer.
