A heart for others

Steffi Wagner

A good dose of energy is probably the basic prerequisite for doing any amount of work. But when this work is also done out of philanthropy, without earning a single cent, then it's a case for the "doer of the week". There are now over 20 initiatives and programmes in Chemnitz in which Chemnitz residents are helping refugees. One of them is Steffi Wagner, a real estate agent by profession. But for the past few months, she has been devoting her time less to her business and more to the refugees arriving and living in Chemnitz.

You already have over 3300 likes on your Facebook page "Help for refugees in Chemnitz". How did you come up with the idea of setting up such a page?
Steffi Wagner: Well, I didn't start the page. The idea came from the photographer Karla Mohr. She launched the site in the summer. I offered her my help at some point, as I spend half the day at the computer anyway. In the first few weeks, I worked 15 hours a day, seven days a week, as there were a lot of enquiries and offers to coordinate at the beginning. When it became clear that the refugee issue would keep us busy for a long time, we needed a good structure. We founded the association Netzwerk für Integration und Zukunft e. V. on 25 September. Since then, our Facebook page "Netzwerk für Integration und Zukunft e.V." has been up and running.

Where does your commitment to refugees come from?
It's a pretty simple story. I was at the initial reception centre with my daughter on 11 August this year. A few days earlier, I had phoned the Malteser International in charge and asked them what they needed. And the Malteser said from the bottom of her heart: "Everything!" We then started a family appeal and collected donations. We had a car full of things and drove them out. That's where I saw the people for the first time. It was so hot and the refugees were waiting in the shade to be registered. There were small children there and that has stayed with me ever since. Anyone who sees this there and has a heart in their body will help! It has nothing to do with politics, but with humanism.

Why have you founded an association now? Does that make anything easier?
There are several reasons. The big advantage is that we can raise donations and use financial resources as an association. That also works very well. There are members of parliament who are currently helping us very generously. The second point is the insurance cover for voluntary work. The scope of work is also so large that we have applied for funding. We now have our registration. Now we are waiting to receive funding and then we can get started with our integration work.

What are the association's plans? What are your plans for the future?
We are going to set up a meeting centre, for which we are already busy collecting equipment. Then, as soon as we have the licence, we will be looking after people there. The donation coordination and distribution that we are currently doing is just firefighting work. The real work, namely integration support, is yet to come. The meeting centre should really aim to bring the people of Chemnitz and the refugees together. We want to continue to offer special German courses for women there, for example. We have now found a student from Chemnitz University of Technology who would like to offer the refugees a course on the Basic Law (GG). Some people complain that refugees don't abide by the Basic Law. But how can they if they don't even know the Basic Law? We also have the opportunity to cook and eat together, which is also very unifying. There will also be a meeting point for family sponsorships in the meeting centre. So we really have a lot planned.

It is important to Steffi Wagner to integrate the refugees into society. And that starts with everyday little things. How do house rules work? How is rubbish separated? If you don't show and explain this to refugees, then it can't work and trouble is inevitable. "And there are lots of helpers who take care of exactly these kinds of issues and support the refugees," says Steffi Wagner.

Which partners have supported you and the organisation so far?
We see ourselves as a network that also cooperates with other organisations. For example, there is the Aidshilfe, the Familienverein Groß und Klein e. V., we have very good contact with the band office in the Musikkombinat. We recently received a large donation of clothes from the St Rochus parish in Schönau near Zwickau. Women there have also knitted socks for the refugees. We organise sewing meetings where wonderful items such as baby blankets, hats and scarves are created.

The great thing about the Facebook page is that you specifically ask for help and know what is currently needed. Where do you get this information from?
The organisations that work in the refugee facilities contact me directly. They call me, tell me what they need, I put it online and in most cases I find people who offer their help. It happens very quickly and easily. In Ebersdorf, for example, a refugee broke his dentures one weekend. I asked very gently via Facebook if anyone could help. I wrote to the dentist for the first time at half past eight on Sunday morning, he was at the refugee camp at one o'clock in the afternoon, made an impression and the denture was repaired on Monday. And that's exactly what's sensational. The people of Chemnitz are said to be a bit snoozy. But at the moment, things are possible here that I would never have dreamed of.

Do you have the feeling that the much-cited welcoming culture exists in Chemnitz?
In part yes, in part not at all.

And which part prevails?
I don't deal with the negative part because I simply don't have the time. At the moment, I'm campaigning for the opportunity to publicly honour our donors. It's very important to me that we say thank you for the donations. So that those who are against refugees, in particular, realise that it's not just a few weirdos who care, but that there are an incredible number of them. I have received the first donation from IKEA and more have been announced. Other companies are offering their help. It's not just a handful of people who are helping. There are a lot of them and the number is growing. If anyone would like to help us, you can always contact us. The best way is by e-mail to niz.ev@arcor.de.

Do you endeavour to allay people's fears, if they have any?
You can talk to people who have fears. Reduce fears. Overcome prejudices through judgement. And you can only do that by looking at the situation on the ground. Coming into contact with refugees. The problem is that many people don't admit their fear - after all, fear is a weakness. They prefer to repeat what the ringleaders say and go along with it. That's why we're also planning an open day in Einsiedel. We have to look after everyone who is there properly now. Because if we take good care of them now and help them to settle in well in their new home, then we will have fewer problems in the end.

The refugees are grateful for the help. Some pass this help on to others. Adel, for example. He has been in Germany for seven months, now has his residence status and is involved in the association. He supports the Chemnitz Welcome Service and picks up refugees from the train station to accompany them to the initial reception centre. As a thank you, he likes to send Steffi Wagner flowers by mobile phone. Little things like this give her strength and joy.

What would you like to show refugees in Chemnitz if you had time for a city tour or something similar?
I would take them to the wildlife park. With families into nature, watching animals, to the playground. If you were to ask me, for example, what I would show the citizens from the old federal states: I would take them for a drive over the Kaßberg and enjoy the envious looks. I am a local patriot, Chemnitz is a very green city. I feel at home here and enjoy living here.

What do you particularly like about the city?
When I was six months old, my parents moved with me from Plauen to Chemnitz. I've practically been here my whole life. I have the impression that the people of Chemnitz sometimes feel like the 13th child, alongside Leipzig and Dresden. But I think we are someone too! We have an incredibly good cultural scene. Our exhibitions are advertised in the major newspapers, such as the Süddeutsche Zeitung, and the opera house has an excellent programme. I love the "Hutgeschichten - Alles auf Anfang" programme, for example. Chemnitz has tradition, we have a good university, I'm excited to see how the Brühl develops. When it opened in 1980, the Brühl was full of people. If we can bring life back into it, that would be fantastic.

Do you have to encourage the people of Chemnitz?
Well, courage... I'm pleased that we have so many initiatives in Chemnitz. Things are happening here that I would never have dreamed of a year ago. I think sometimes you have to push the people of Chemnitz a bit. But there is an incredible amount of potential here, especially among young people. I'm pleasantly surprised by what's going on here.