This question is often answered from a political or academic perspective. But a personal response is just as possible. What do you think? As someone who has fled to Germany? As someone who has been involved in the processes on a full-time or voluntary basis? Or as someone who was not involved, but only observing?

• What remains, even if the place itself no longer exists?
• What experiences and events have shaped people?
• What phase begins after the farewell – for the people, the neighbourhood, for politics and administration?

“When I think of the very first ones – they were a Syrian and an Egyptian family. I helped them with their search for an apprenticeship or with personal problems. And I’m still in contact with them today.“ (Heidi)

„So in Treptow Köpenick I had the feeling, yes. At least we were in a period of consolidation from 2017 to 2021. But the inevitable happened. The next stressful situation arrived. Whilst we were busy managing one situation, we were not really prepared for new developments. And I believe that managing migration only really succeeds if it sticks to the principle that everything must remain stable, even in a stressful situation.“ (Nils Hauer)

„When I meet people in the borough now, I’m always really happy to see them: wow, they have found their way. They have made it for themselves.“ (Linda Massino)

„I’m noticing that more and more people who experienced migration have truly arrived and are now actively involved in counselling work. And this may even be a small stepping stone on their way to something else.“ (Gregor Postler)

„The refugee situation is shaped by the fact that the numbers sometimes go up, sometimes down. Nevertheless, I think we need organised recording structures that are scalable, at least to a certain extent. Perhaps we need to think about multiple uses for buildings. Then you just help out with heating the properties in winter. We need to think ahead, also in the area of refugees, so that the state retains in capacity to take action.“ (Detlef Cwojdzinski)

“Being there for other people is what drives us most. We were there from day one when the first home was built at the front of Allende I. Then came the home here in Allende II. And that’s when we all met at Bethel, the retirement home. Anyone with an interest in helping, no matter in which way, gathered there. Now an era is coming to an end. And I am grateful for all the experiences over the years.“ (Marianne)

„I don’t think we’ve managed to integrate the residents of the home in such a way that they completely at home. Maybe a few of them, yes. But not the majority in my view. Did we manage to ensure that the people here were able to lead a reasonable, worthwhile life during the time they spent here in the temporary accommodation centre? I would say yes, we did manage that. Have we managed to prevent the Allende neighbourhood from exploding and murder and manslaughter from occurring here? Yes, we managed that, too.“ (Dirk)

„Yes, we can do it, it is possible. Along the lines of ‘we’re going to the moon‘. We will also be able to provide for these people.“ (Oliver Igel)

„For me, the Garden of Hope meant taking action to counter the hopelessness that wars embed in people, and doing so in my neighbourhood. Hope is green. The hope of a little paradise amidst the dreariness of containers. And to create something unifying, vibrant and tangible across the boundaries of language and culture. We planted peace.“ (Gitti (Fatima))

„The services provided by the state and governments are not the actual solution. Only real life and the experience of dealing with refugees will help us to restore calm and live peacefully with refugees in a street or a house. It is the exact same thing that we have been required to do as residents of a retirement home and several others times n the course of our lives!“ (Heinrich)

“Perhaps I managed half of what I wanted to achieve. It helped a lot to know how to handle the paperwork.“ (Abdul)

„It’s far from over, because this is a global problem.“ (Marek Bauer)