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New life in Zechlin: Refugees from 8 nations design their home!
Since the transitional home opened, 70 residents from 8 nations have lived in Flecken Zechlin. Actions promote integration and community.
New life in Zechlin: Refugees from 8 nations design their home!
In the town of Zechlin there are lively activities in the newly opened transitional home. Since the official opening on September 15, 2025, 70 residents from eight different nations are currently living there under one roof. The common room is a place of creativity where children and adults paint pictures to decorate the walls. These actions create a welcoming atmosphere and promote contact between residents and villagers who frequently visit. The initiative, especially for children, includes craft activities in which even local residents actively participate. Such community projects are important for growing together and show that good cooperation is possible.
The opening of the dormitory was not without complications. Before the inauguration, there were disputes between the city of Rheinsberg and the district over the renovation of the former lakeside hotel. Mayor Frank-Rudi Schwochow has also recently found himself exposed to a legal dispute that was triggered by allegations of slander. Despite these initial difficulties, everyday life in the dormitory has so far gone without any major problems. Residents have already been able to make offers of donations, and there are efforts to expand contact with the local history association in order to involve other villagers.
Cohesion and support
An important step to support residents will be the opening of a clothing store that will fill the gap left by the closure of the old clothing store in Rheinsberg. This will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays and is in urgent need of wearable clothing and shoes. The plan is for the clothing store to be run by the residents themselves, although social workers will initially be there to provide support. This self-organized initiative will further strengthen the sense of community.
The new dormitory has space for 120 to 150 people, which at the same time creates space for the further development of the community. Initial discussions have already been held with the Rheinsberg city administration about building a playground. Notes in different languages orient newly arriving residents and make it easier for them to settle into their new surroundings. These measures are in line with the goals of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, which, among other things, coordinates initiatives to protect refugees and to support particularly vulnerable people in accommodation. This is intended to ensure minimum standards for the protection of refugees in the facilities. This includes not only women and children, but also other vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities or LGBTQ+ people.
The integration of these people is promoted by the continued adjustment of protection goals and structural support measures, including through model projects. In Flecken Zechlin, participation and respectful coexistence are also very important thanks to the new dormitory. The commitment of the villagers, who actively participate in the projects, shows that a place is being created here where diversity is lived and everyone is welcome. This becomes clear not only through the structural conditions, but above all through the human contact that makes this place special.