Aus dem Allende-Viertel: Seeking Asylum
My father came to Germany first and we stayed back. He was afraid that something would happen to us at sea and we would die. He said he would go first, as a victim so to speak, and see what it was like. And he almost died in the sea, but he tried again and made it in the end. With the rubber dinghy. Actually, a maximum of 20 people fit in it, but they put 50 people anyways. And that's when bad things happen and people die. He then said to us, "No, you won't come like that. I'll get you with family reunification." But that wouldn't have worked, because my older brother was already 19 or 20. And then he would have had to stay back alone, which is also very dangerous. That's why we fled like my father did, by rubber dinghy. The decision came from my mother, we didn't tell my father. Just "okay, we're on our way", otherwise he wouldn't have accepted it. Fortunately, it was not as dangerous as it was back then for my father.
This text was written as part of the exhibition "sprach-fähig" by BENN (Berlin Develops New Neighbourhoods) in the Allende district as part of the International Weeks against Racism. Many neighbours from the neighbourhood took part and shared their stories.
Katha koordiniert InteraXion, Willkommensbüro und Wohnraumberatung für Menschen mit Migrations- und Fluchterfahrung in Treptow-Köpenick. Sie begleitet RawafedZusammenfluss von hauptamtlicher Seite. Journalistische Erfahrung konnte sie durch verschiedene Projekte der Jugendpresse und dem Studierendenmagazin UnAufgefordert sammeln. Wenn sie nicht nach neuen Geschichten sucht, tummelt sie sich in Boulderhallen.
Katha coordinates InteraXion, the welcome office for migrants* and refugees in Treptow-Köpenick and accompanies RawafedZusammenfluss through her work. She gained journalistic experience through various youth press projects and the student magazine UnAufgefordert. When she is not looking for new stories, she spends her time in bouldering halls.
