Students visit Refugium for German language exchange with refugees as part of new ‘language buddy’ volunteer program

In Dr. Ulrike Wagner’s German conversation course, students not only study German language skills in the classroom, but also put them into practice throughout daily life in Berlin. Last month, in collaboration with Bard College Berlin’s Office of Civic Engagement, 11 students from the course visited the Refugium, a shared accommodation facility for vulnerable refugees run by the Paul Gerhardt Stift zu Berlin.

The Refugium provides a safe, welcoming atmosphere for refugees defined by the EU as vulnerable—primarily women with children and people with disabilities. “Visiting the Refugium with the students of my German conversation course was an enriching experience,” Wagner says. “For our students, the visit was an excellent opportunity to practice their German off-campus, while gaining an insight into day-to-day volunteer work and learning how they can help by signing up to support the residents of Refugium.”

During the visit, students got a tour of the Paul Gerhard Stift and learned about the refugee accommodation and engagement opportunities from volunteer coordinator Elisa Conteh. BCB’s Civic Engagement Manager Faiza zu Lynar explains, “At Refugium, the focus of volunteer work is on strengthening and promoting the participation of people with refugee experience who are in a vulnerable position.”

The visit was part of a new Civic Engagement language buddy program developed in collaboration with BCB's German Studies department. Zu Lynar states, “The idea is that BCB students with advanced German language skills are encouraged to pass on their skills to other German language learners across Berlin, participate in meaningful voluntary engagement, and explore the city together with new friends.”

“I think the language buddy program has the potential to be incredibly beneficial for both students and the community,” Wagner adds. “Rather than just practicing in a classroom, they engage in real conversations about some of the most pressing issues of our time. And while helping others, they improve their language skills in a natural way.”

Learn more about BCB’s Civic Engagement initiatives here, and more about the German Studies program here.

Post Date: 03-27-2025