Berlin Arrival Support

14/09/2023

Meet Piotr. In his volunteer work, he is motivated by a desire to bring small moments of happiness to the lives of those affected by Russia's war of aggression in Ukraine. He comes from Poland, where in the past, he mandatorily studied Russian at school during the Soviet era. Together with his native Polish, this enables him to communicate with people coming from Ukraine. In the past years, Piotr has volunteered supporting refugees from Iraq and Syria, collecting donations with different NGOs for refugees in Berlin and Lesvos.
Since the occupation of Crimea by Russia, Piotr has been following the events in Ukraine closely. The full-scale invasion and the refugee movement towards Germany motivated him to come to Berlin Central Station to help. He remembers meeting people coming directly from war zones, their physical injuries as well as emotional trauma. He vividly remembers small children getting startled and trying to hide from an approaching train because of the loud noise that reminded them of tanks. In those moments, he tries to provide a sense of security by explaining what is going on and safely guiding those arriving to where they need to go. A kind word or a small treat can go a long way. Piotr says that he is always very touched by gestures of thankfulness, may it be a heartfelt expression of gratitude or sometimes even small gifts such as a pin with a Ukrainian flag or a jar of honey from someone’s village.
Piotr values the sense of community he has found among like-minded individuals within BAS. He appreciates being part of a team that not only supports the refugees they care for but also supports each other. He says that he will keep coming back as long as people need help.
Piotr is 57 years old and one of our more experienced volunteers, but unfortunately, he has recently been struggling with some health problems. We send our best wishes for a swift recovery to dear Piotr and hope he takes good care of himself!

10/09/2023

Meet Alikhan. He might be BAS’ tallest volunteer which makes him easy to spot even amidst the crowded train station. Having lived in three different countries before coming to Berlin, he has been part of international communities long before BAS. Alikhan was born and raised in Almaty, Kazakhstan. He says that there are a lot of parallels between his native homeland and Ukraine. Here in Germany, most people are not aware of the fact that both countries were heavily affected not just by Soviet policies but also by Russia’s imperialism long before the rise of the Soviet Union. Kazakhstan also suffered an artificially caused famine just a year before the Holodomor in Ukraine started. Modern Russia considers parts of Kazakhstan as Russian, same as it does in Ukraine. Russia also tends to claim that Kazakhstan isn’t a country of its own at all (which is also does in the case of Ukraine) completely ignoring its rich and ancient history spanning hundreds of years since the times of Kazakh Khanade in the 14th century. A lot of people in Kazakhstan grew up speaking exclusively Russian. Alikhan made the disadvantage of not actually being able to speak his country's native language into an advantage by using Russian to communicate with people arriving from Ukraine. This way, the effects of the russification that both countries are suffering were made into a tool of solidarity and mutual understanding.

04/09/2023

Meet Kyrill. Not only is he a professional pianist, occasional organist, artist, and movie director, but he is also the author of the BAS anthem, which he sang passionately at our New Year’s party. As a Ukrainian, Kyrill sees helping refugees as a way of expressing his stance on the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. BAS is his way of supporting his homeland. He enjoys the community that he has found at BAS. He describes himself as more of an introvert who has found an unusually large group of friends at BAS. But even if it weren’t for that, supporting Ukraine and its people is non-negotiable for him. Originally from Kyiv, Kyrill has lived in Germany for two decades. Still, he doesn't let distance become a barrier. He is active almost every day, either directly at the station or during our consultation hours. Kyrill likes solving problems and finding ways for people to get what they need, aiming to find the best outcome for them within the complicated German bureaucratic system. He says that he had to overcome many bureaucratic obstacles during his own arrival and first years of life in Germany, so he can relate to feelings of being confused, angry, or just plain overwhelmed that a lot of refugees might experience when trying to navigate all the necessary processes and paperwork. Back then, he himself was helped by different NGOs, and now he can give something back. He also transitioned into the digital age with BAS: using PayPal and online banking, having an Instagram account, or booking flights online are all things that he had never done before. Can you imagine? Thank you, Kyrill, for your open mind and heart, as well as your quiet patience and empathy.

22/02/2023

Meet Romana.

She is one of our most dedicated long-time BAS volunteers since she came to Berlin in April 2022. A student of Eastern European history, she had her stay as an exchange student set up before the full scale invasion, not even beginning to imagine what was to come. Attacks on Romana’s home town Kyiv had her family fleeing to Lviv in March. There, she volunteered with .foundation and was eager to keep helping people with BAS as soon as she arrived in Berlin.

When asked why she started volunteering, Romana says “I just had to do something.” Volunteering helped her develop more empathy and understanding of others. The most difficult part is listening to people’s stories, hearing what they had to live through. At the same it puts things into perspective and leads to a strong appreciation of the small comforts in life and being able to stay abroad in safety.

Romana is clear and passionate when it comes to what she wants of this year. She wants victory for Ukraine. She wants to go home. “We are all in this together. We have to get closer to victory. I am not a soldier or medic, I can’t help win this war directly. But in the meantime, I can help those affected.”

This Friday, on the anniversary of the full scale invasion, Romana will speak at the Full-Scale Freedom demonstration organised by and .
It will start at 4 PM at Café Kyiv, Karl-Marx-Allee 34, 10178 Berlin.

Please join, tell everyone about it, bring your family and friends. On this sad but important day we need to stand united, be loud and vocal and push to end this war once and for all.

Слава Україні!

📷 .ilyas.klanten

22/02/2023

13/12/2022

Hi friends, Christmas is fast approaching and so is more and more cold weather. This year, finding appropriate and warm clothing for those in need is especially difficult. A lot of organizations and facilities are having problems stocking up on the needed items.

We would like to help with the donation drive since Berlin Hauptbahnhof is a central and convenient location for many. We are now collecting clothing donations at our container at Europaplatz. They will be distributed to refugees in need.

If you want to help, please stick to the following guidelines:
* All donated items should be clean and intact.
* Please pack everything in sturdy bags for easier transportation.
* Only bring items from the following list:

What is needed?
* winter jackets
* sturdy, warm boot
* sweaters
* scarves, gloves, hats
* pants / jeans / skirts
* thermal underwear / thick tights / (warm) socks
* t-shirts (short + long)
* (sports-) bras, undershirts
* underpants (unworn!)
* flip-flops

Thank you in advance for helping out, every contribution will be highly appreciated.

10/12/2022

Almost 8mln people had to flee from the Russian full-scale invasion in Ukraine. Over 1mln of them came to . Not everybody has a Ukrainian passport. Not all of them are white, Christian, able-bodied, cisgender or heterosexual. Meanwhile, around 215.000 refugees from other countries are seeking in Germany in 2022. They all deserve equal treatment. But they are not getting it.

Today is International Human Rights Day. This year, It comes at a time of . The number of forcibly persons is at an all time high worldwide. 103mln had to leave their homes according to the .

Displaced persons who belong to marginalized groups and have already been facing discrimination run a higher risk of further unfair and inhumane treatment and hardships while seeking safety. This makes it all the more important to remind ourselves - especially in times of crisis - that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights enshrines the rights of all human beings. Please get involved and active by , spreading or to help those who are most vulnerable to and protect their basic .

28/08/2022

We got invited to exhibit at the Federal President's Citizens' Festival.

Even though it rained a lot we did get the chance to present to a broad public on Saturday.

And we even had a special guest visiting us.

04/08/2022

Lucia from Mariupol drew a cat on the back of my hand.

Lucia and her family - mother, father, sister, brother, and grandmother in a wheelchair - stayed in Mariupol until the last possible moment. They were not planning to leave their home. They decided to do so recently and “only when things calmed down". They fled through Russia and the Baltic states before finally arriving in Germany.

When we met at the Berlin Arrival Support info desk, they were very tired. They’d gotten lost in Berlin, missed their train, and hadn't eaten anything all day. I decided to get them free tickets for the following day and send them to Tegel where they could rest for a night.

In the White Tent, from where the shuttles to the arrival center at Tegel leave, I sat for a minute to write down their upcoming train connections. While her parents went to get more information, Lucia and her siblings stayed with me.
"Why are you writing so much?" Lucia asked. “So that you don't get lost tomorrow."
She wasn’t interested in all of the numbers and times; Lucia wanted to draw. I finished the notes for the train and gave her my pen.
"What should I draw for you?"
"Whatever you like."
She paused and took my left hand.
“I will draw a cat. In Mariupol, we had a cat. It was the best cat in the world, the only one, cats like this don't exist otherwise. We couldn't take him with us, he was too…” Lucia paused and closes her eyes for a moment.
“…we will never go back there and never see the cat again.”
She finished the cat and then drew a dog on my right hand.
“This dog is a boy, so he doesn't get a ribbon.”

*KEEP READING IN THE COMMENTS*

#славаукраїні

18/07/2022

Supporting has a lot of different faces. As long as the war continues, we will give our best to offer our service.
This can look like volunteering at the platforms and welcoming people as well as back office work. Our mission is to support where ever we can. Join our team and be a friendly and welcoming face to those in need.

08/07/2022

Dear BAS volunteers and friends,
this time we have a special surprise for you - our first BAS tombola! 🎉

Everyone who comes to volunteer at the station this Saturday and Sunday can enter the giveaway and win some amazing prizes. 🏆

🤘🏽 3 x 2 tickets for the Coldplay concert on July 13th
🚂 10 x 20€ DB train ticket vouchers
🎊 and much more