The school social workers of the Saarpfalz district have come up with something special for Ukrainian refugee children who are newly enrolled. As a welcome gift, the newcomers receive a tote bag that can also be converted into a backpack, filled with useful items for everyday school life. These include a water bottle, a lunch box, colored pencils, a ruler, an eraser, and a drawing pad. Additionally, there is an illustrative "Join-In Book," which takes its owner on an adventurous treasure hunt through the Bliesgau and the region.
“We want to bring joy to the children and their parents, who are still settling in our country, at the start of the school year and at the same time introduce ourselves as contact persons through a flyer in the Ukrainian language, offering advice and assistance with school-related and personal problems,” explains the graduate social worker Karin Höhle from the school social work team.
School social work is, alongside the teaching staff, a supporting pillar at schools especially during this initial phase, helping ensure that children and young people receive the support and assistance they need.
District Administrator Dr. Theophil Gallo is very pleased about this heartfelt initiative of the school social workers: “We do not know what the children have already been through when they have to find their place anew in a class group, do not speak the language, and are possibly very unsettled due to their new life situation. I am convinced that the fellow students as well as all teachers are doing their best to integrate the refugee children into the classes. Our welcome gift can certainly also be understood as a ‘door opener’ for this new beginning. I thank all those involved in the field of school social work for implementing their appealing idea, which is sure to be well received.”
