As of: March 2, 2024, 12:00 p.m
By: Franziska Seliger
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Christian Hempel (pictured left) and his colleagues regularly bring relief supplies to Ukraine.
© private
There has been war in Ukraine for two years.
The “Coordination Office for Ukraine Aid” was founded in Penzberg soon after the outbreak of war.
Since then, private individuals under the leadership of Christian Hempel have been regularly transporting aid from Penzberg directly to the country.
They all want to continue their support.
Penzberg – On the morning of February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine.
In order to support the refugees arriving in Penzberg, the “Ukraine Aid Coordination Office” was created in June 2022, operated by the Arche Noah family center.
Kateryna Stadler has headed the position since the beginning.
She has two volunteers to support her.
She spends 20 hours a week helping war refugees find their way in the Oberland.
Stadler estimates that around 150 Ukrainians currently live in Penzberg.
According to the district office, there are currently 1,578 people in the district.
Refugees are still arriving in Penzberg
Many fled, especially after the start of the war, says Stadler.
But refugees would also arrive two years later - depending on the threat situation in the country.
Many are from large cities such as Kiev or Odessa and from cities in the east, where the danger from the Russian army is greater than in western Ukraine.
At the beginning of the war she mainly looked after Ukrainian women and their children, but now whole families come again and again, says Stadler.
Because: “From three children onwards, fathers are also allowed to leave the country.”
Kateryna Stadler from the “Coordination Office for Ukraine” supports refugees in Penzberg.
© wos
Stadler's work has remained the same over the past two years: she advises new arrivals in Penzberg and the surrounding towns - either by phone or in person.
She helps with dealing with authorities or filling out documents.
If possible, she also accompanies the refugees to the doctor in order to translate, she explains.
Stadler speaks Ukrainian, German and Russian.
An interpreter is not paid.
Many Ukrainians want to stay in Germany
Two years after the start of the war, many Ukrainians prepared to stay in Germany, says Stadler.
Many are pessimistic when it comes to an early end to the war and a safe return home.
But many Ukrainians see their future in Germany as positive.
Stadler does not want to let the recent criticism that too few Ukrainians work in Germany stand.
Of course there are “some black sheep”.
“But most of them want to work.” Many refugees are “highly qualified”.
They often have a good command of the German language after just one year and no longer need your support.
The district office could not say how many refugee Ukrainians in the district have found work or are receiving citizen's benefit.
The good news, says Stadler: Despite the difficult housing situation for refugees, many of those who have been living here for a long time have now found their own apartment.
Christian Hempel is someone who has been traveling regularly to Ukraine for two years, primarily to help the children.
In 2022, he and other people from the region joined forces to form a private initiative that primarily collects donations in kind for children's homes, schools or children's hospitals in the region in the name of “Borderless Children's Aid”.
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The goods are stored in a room on Christianstrasse in Penzberg, which the city made available, until they are transported further, says Bichler.
Furniture, clothing or medical equipment is regularly transported to western Ukraine, Hungary or Romania - where Ukrainian orphans are often taken - using private vehicles, donated company vehicles or Ukrainian vans.
Just a few days ago Hempel returned from a trip.
The trips would be carried out as needed, on average every six to eight weeks.
Purely private commitment has “grown significantly”
In the past two years, around 150 volunteers have donated or taken on transport trips, Hempel estimates.
This “purely private commitment” “grew significantly” over the course of the war.
Up to 6,000 children in various children's homes alone benefited from the support.
There are also schools and hospitals.
While at the beginning of the war it was about ensuring people's survival with aid transports, today it is about “offering sustainable help”.
He and his colleagues are currently helping to set up schools and equip them with learning materials.
Hand tools are also supplied to promote the vocational training of young people.
“And we support single refugee mothers in Ukraine in founding start-ups,” such as a café or a sewing shop.
This should give women the opportunity to make a living again.
Ukrainians living in Penzberg would be involved as helpers and their integration would also be promoted.
Hempel wants to continue to help the people of Ukraine in the future.
And Kateryna Stadler also helps.
Funding for her position will be secured until the end of the year.
At the moment, she doesn't know what will happen next.
Donation account
Anyone who would like to support Christian Hempel's work can donate money to the Arche Noah family center account;
Purpose: “Unlimited children’s aid”;
IBAN: DE 45 7035 1030 0032 372 989 at Sparkasse Oberland.
Donations in kind are accepted in Penzberg at Christianstraße 6 every Saturday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and by appointment (email to christian@ibh-hempel.de).