Yahyah abdi, a schoolboy from somalia, was all smiles as he received his red cross certificate from deputy district administrator jorg kunstmann, head of the vocational school center alexander battistella and BRK district manager jurgen dippold in the large meeting room at the district administration office in kulmbach.
"Two days ago i couldn’t do anything. If I have an accident now, I know what I have to do. I can help", says yahyah abdi. And many schoolchildren smiled. Because one thing is clear: even in the case of serious injuries, after the blue light weeks everyone dares to call the emergency number 112. No one is afraid to answer the questions of the rescue center anymore.
The police also informed
As part of the blue light weeks, the students in the vocational integration class and in the preparatory class for the vocational high school took a first aid course with the bavarian red cross. Lothar seyfferth acted as trainer. "That was an excellent thing. You really did a great job with the practice. The cooperation was also good", said the instructor.
All the students got the certificate they need to get their driver’s license. Free. "We hope that this example will set a precedent and that we will be able to extend the project, which has now been carried out for the first time at the vocational school center, to all secondary schools. Yes, we want to bring the project to the flat", school board member michael hack explained at the certificate ceremony.
But it was not only first aid and the voluntary activities of the BRK that the schoolchildren learned about; the police also came to the school with a whole team and explained to the schoolchildren how police checks are carried out and how to behave correctly. The police recruitment consultant – robert schwarz – gave insights into the police profession and the requirements. And jochen bergmann from the criminal police bayreuth did drug prevention and explained the german laws.
For the volunteer fire department in kulmbach, district fire chief stefan hartlein provided information about volunteering and entry requirements. And the technical aid organization invited the schoolchildren to von-linde-strabe. The students were able to fill sandbags, learn about the THW’s activities and try out handling heavy equipment.
"Only through volunteer services can we ensure protection and safety. We need new recruits and we have to shoulder this together", said deputy district administrator jorg kunstmann and described the blue light weeks as a "wonderful initiative. Kunstmann promoted volunteerism among neuburg residents. "Help make society a little better", was the message to the young refugees.
The head of the vocational school center alexander battistella was pleased that the blue light weeks could take place at the most prestigious educational institution in the district – the vocational school center. "The blue light weeks were a great success. They were a win for the schools", said battistella.
Wish: for all middle schools
School board member michael hack appealed to the students to use the insights as an incentive. "It’s important to learn german and to graduate," said, so hack. The school board wishes, after the successful start of the blue light weeks, to extend such a volunteer initiative to all middle schools. Because there was potential there, too.
Souzan nicholson, the integration officer, and annekatrin butterich from the district office in kulmbach, also spoke positively about the action weeks. Both acted as main organizers and put a lot of effort into the realization of the event. The speakers from BRK, THW and the fire department were also impressed by the commitment of the schoolchildren.
Some schools have already made contact with aid organizations after the blue light weeks. Sarah wairimu from kenya was pleased that the politicians and public representatives spoke personally with the young migrants. "It’s great. You can go, you can learn something and you can help other people", said the young kenyan woman. "We have understood that you have to work voluntarily. We all have a heart for upper franconia and for kulmbach", said yahyah abdi from somalia and received applause from his fellow students and the officials.