Joint Project: DRK and University of Siegen Supporting Ukrainian Youths

The German Red Cross (DRK) for Siegen-Wittgenstein and the University of Siegen’s FabLab have put together an extracurricular program for Ukraine refugee youths. For one year, the youths will be shown and given the chance to experiment with technologies such as 3D printing and robotics.

How can a welcoming hand be offered to children and youths forced to leave behind their familiar cities and towns due to war? What experiences can help them make the best of a traumatic time of life?  It’s a question of urgent importance for the German Red Cross. The DRK has already offered a number of events and programs for smaller children, including field trips and arts and crafts days. “We wanted to find something cool for teenagers, and we struck upon the idea of a partnership with the FabLab,” explains Susanne El Hachimi-Schreiber, Volunteer Coordinator for the DRK office in Siegen-Wittgenstein.

Marios Mouratidis, a research associate at the University of Siegen's FabLab, was immediately taken with the idea. Together with two students, he composed an initial concept. “We were trying to figure out which of our offerings would be of interest to youths and also safe. Among the best candidates were 3D printing, laser cutting, programming, and robotics,” explains Hina Firdaus, who is supporting the project as part of her master’s degree program. “The concept was then presented to the Bürgerstiftung Siegen, which immediately expressed approval and soon was able to provide financing for the materials we’d need."

The courses are held on Mondays and have been very well attended. “We initially planned on maybe ten youths and hoped that at least seven or eight would register,” Mouratidis says. Their hopes were quickly surpassed when 14 Ukrainian teenagers came to take part at the first meeting--and continue to show up regularly. “It’s especially wonderful to see the project blossoming and the youths continuing to develop,” says El Hachimi-Schreiber. “While most of them were very reserved or even uncomfortable at first, they now are glad to come and have fun, and bring good ideas.”

Over time, more and more local teenagers will also be invited to help the refugees build contacts outside just the Ukrainian community. All participants hope that the project will run past its original framework and become a self-sustaining volunteer project.
 
Contact
Marios Mouratidis
Tel.: +49 271 740– 4535
Email: marios.mouratidis@uni-siegen.de

Dr. Martin Horchler
Chair, DRK District Association Siegen-Wittgenstein
Email: m.horchler@drk-siegen-wittgenstein.de