Bridging past, present and future - Working and Learning in Neuendorf im Sande
Description: In the project "Gutshof Neuendorf im Sande", the history of the site is documented and made accessible to the public. In the 1930s, the estate was a hachshara site, an agricultural training estate where the increasingly persecuted Jews were to be enabled to leave Nazi Germany through agricultural training. From 1941, the estate became a forced labour camp, and in April 1943 the last Jewish residents were deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp, where many were killed. In GDR times, the farm was a state-owned property. The project offers workshops on history and political topics, organises concerts, readings, film evenings and theatre performances and wants to become a meeting place for the region.
Type of Work: The estate is to become a place where people can discuss, learn and spend time together all year round. Up to now, the art, culture and political education events have mainly taken place in summer and outside - also because there is not yet a heatable roofed room for them. Together with the work camp, a room in a former stable building is to be renovated so that meetings and events are also possible in the colder months. In addition, an outdoor area is to be designed. Light manual work, painting and gardening are on the agenda.
Study Theme: The study part is about the history of the estate, a history of Jewish self-organisation under the pressure of National Socialist persecution. How can culture of remembrance function in rural areas? What is the significance of remembering the past at all for our societies today? What are the challenges? Theoretical aspects of democracy and the possibilities of developing a place for meeting and learning in orphaned rural areas are the focus. If desired, excursions to other sites can also be organised.
Accommodation: Accommodation is in tents on the farm. The tents are provided by the project. There are indoor and outdoor cooking facilities.
Language: The common language will be English.
Requirements: An interest in Jewish history and remembrance work, a willingness to do light manual work indoors and outdoors and a desire to get to know the project and its people are desirable.
Approximate Location: The Neuendorf im Sande estate is about 5 kilometres from the small town of Fürstenwalde and can easily be reached by bicycle from the railway station there. In Fürstenwalde there are shopping facilities, a swimming pool, cultural and leisure activities. There is a public bathing area at Lake Trebus about 15 minutes away by bike. From Fürstenwalde train station it takes about 30 minutes by train to the centre of Berlin. Bicycles are provided by the project.
Notes: The Neuendorf im Sande estate is run by a collective of people from a wide variety of backgrounds who organise cultural, art and educational events or work the estate's land agriculturally. There are often evenings together around the campfire and a lot of desire to meet and exchange with international guests. Visits to other, similar community projects in the region can also be offered. INCOMING FEE for volunteers applying via partner organisations and contacts of SCI: https://sci-d.de/incomingfee