Thank you party for helping students

Science Minister Dr. Eva-Maria Stange threw a big thank-you party to thank Saxony’s students for their volunteer support in assisting refugees. On Saturday, 250 students danced, discussed, and celebrated at the Kleines Haus of the Staatsschauspiel Dresden. With music filling every room—provided by several bands and DJs—along with a winter barbecue and lively conversations, many new connections were made, and shared ideas for future involvement were born. Some students had also brought refugees along. The thank-you party was organized by the State Ministry of Science and the Arts in collaboration with the Conference of Saxon Student Unions and the Staatsschauspiel Dresden. It was funded by donations.

Our president, Prof. Dr. Friedrich Albrecht, as well as eleven students from our university, also attended the event. They were accompanied by university staff members Berit Hupke and Kathrin Schubert, who are deeply committed to supporting our international students and providing academic advising to refugees. Almost unnoticed, the students from Zittau and Görlitz help refugees—whether by interpreting, assisting with official procedures, participating in the welcome network, providing homework help, or similar activities. What was particularly heartwarming: The students also brought 19-year-old Syrian refugee Moatasem—who is interested in studying electrical engineering at our university—with them to Dresden.

Dr. Eva-Maria Stange noted that this high level of willingness to help did not really surprise her:

“Because I know how international and open-minded the faculty and students at the universities are.”

Minister Stange believes that the volunteer work of the students and many other people will still be necessary even once all support programs are up and running and all necessary language and integration courses have been professionally established.

“After all, it is precisely the voluntary, selfless willingness to help—including that of the students—their outreach to refugees, and their care for families, women, and children that conveys to them, with great human warmth: ‘You are welcome here; we will help you. That is the fundamental prerequisite for successful integration into our community in the coming years,” explains Stange.

During the break in the event, the minister engaged in a very interested conversation with the students and refugees in attendance.

The trip to this successful event was more than just marred by the fact that our international students were repeatedly berated and insulted on the train during the return journey.

Excerpts from the SMWK press release were used in this text.

Photos: Katrin Schubert