Summer living for the Community is always a bit more spread out than at other times of the year, with people coming and going on holiday trips, camping, festivals, etc, although Caribuni still runs with holiday programs for the neighbourhood.
At the beginning of July, the Caribuni Sprachkurs (Language Class) got featured in the local paper as, for the first time since it started, it offered it’s own Prufung (Final Exam) and certification. Unfortunately, this is still in a very non-official capacity but, it does mean that everyone who completes their course (and passes their test) leaves with a certificate stating how many hours of instruction they’ve received, what themes or topics have been covered, and to what level they are now able to communicate. We are proud to be able to offer this, especially as it means that, for many of the women who come because they are unable to attend other “official” courses due to childcare or school schedules, people now receive an official statement to the effect that they are learning. For many of these women, who have to check-in regularly with either the Job Centre Employment Office or the Immigration Office, up until now they have been unable to provide documentation that they are trying to integrate and learn, and yet they are continually being told that they must attend these language courses that they simply cannot access, due to practicalities! Now, not only are they able to come to our class with breastfeeding infants or young toddlers to learn the language in a safe, flexible environment, but they are able to have something to give to the authorities to show what they are trying to achieve!
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| We're famous!! Sort of... |
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| The brilliant group of people I've been learning German with... |
It was also quite nice for me to receive my certificate, if for nothing aside from my personal sense of achievement!
Throughout the rest of the summer Caribuni ran its summer program with various field trips and special activities, alongside lots of games, play and crafts. They are now back in their regular programs of neighbourhood football (soccer), Community Breakfasts, Family Days, etc.
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| Enjoying a lovely day out with Caribuni friends! (It poured the entire time...) |
On a less positive note, within the wider neighbourhood we have begun noticing a growing attitude of nationalistic, protectionist racism. With the ongoing strains and developments within the political spheres, combined with some people’s personal choices in how they choose to perceive these situations, we have begun to hear stories of Syrian friends being mobbed or targeted (currently still seemingly only verbal!) and, we now have one or two friends who no longer choose to come to Caribuni because of the “Foreigners” who come there!. Although, fortunately(?), these things are still relatively mild compared to some other areas within Germany, they are still both heartbreaking and concerning to see happening in a community where we seek to encourage love and inclusion.
Lastly, even as we carry some of these things with us, good things are happening too, and this coming weekend will be one of those as we celebrate one of our Community Weekends. This is a time for us, within the core polylux community, to get away together, reconnect after the summer, have some fun and pray for the year ahead. It’s always a lovely time of deeper conversations, with time to just “be” together and for lots of laughter, and I know we’re all looking forwards to it!
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