Steinmühle Boarding School Rolls Up Its Sleeves: Helping Hands in the Ahr Valley
Six students, accompanied by two teachers, traveled to the Ahr Valley—which remains severely devastated—on the Saturday before the fall break with the help of the organization “Helfer Shuttle” to provide volunteer assistance there.
Get to work with a jackhammer, a mask, and work boots
Our eight-member delegation was commissioned by a resident of Bad Neuenahr in Ahrweiler, whose house and garden had been ravaged and largely destroyed by the summer floods.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done here,” says our educator Phillip Rumpel, “but at least we’ve been able to bring some order to things, and that gives us hope.”
Working together, the students scraped the plaster off the wall and helped clear away the piles of debris in front of the house. There was also plenty to do in the resident’s yard: a tree had to be cut down, the flower beds were cleared of mud, and the paving stones, which had been scattered haphazardly, were stacked on a pallet.
“Even though there were only eight of us, we got a lot done!”
The students, in particular, showed great compassion and enthusiasm. “What made it special for me was being able to really help the local people repair their own homes!” student Felix reports proudly.
Experiencing the full range of emotions—all in a single day
After the mission, student Julian reacted with emotion: “It’s shocking to see what it still looks like there. But at the same time, it was so great to see how many people came to help—and we were able to be a part of it.”
The students of legal age experienced a wide range of emotions that day. Out of respect for the suffering of the residents, we will not disclose any personal details here, but for the students, it was a particularly moving moment to be able to share in the experience.
“It’s completely different from watching it on TV,” says student Jan. “That was really intense. But we helped as much as we could. And it was actually kind of fun, too!”
Experience Community in a Whole New Way
All the students involved were particularly moved by one feeling: a sense of community. Emilia, a student who just transferred to Steinmühle Boarding School this school year, was especially enthusiastic: “It was as if we’d known each other for a long time. The solidarity and sense of community among the volunteers—but also among us as a group—were impressive.”
Everyone would come along again if there were another event
The project was organized by Nils Schwandt, the head of the Steinmühle boarding school. “Unfortunately, only students of legal age were able to participate this time, so we were only able to provide support with eight students.”
In total, just under 40 students and teachers from the Steinmühle boarding school volunteered to help. However, for insurance reasons, only those of legal age were able to participate in the event.
“Maybe it’ll work out again with more people at a different location,” says Nils Schwandt. “In any case, there’s definitely a willingness to help within the boarding school community here.”
In any case, the entire Steinmühle boarding school community is sending its best wishes and strength to all residents of the Ahr Valley, and we hope that our eight-person team of volunteers was able to bring some peace of mind and optimism for the future.
