Lauren - Burnley College

I went to Hellersdorf in Berlin June 2012 with twelve other learners and Ian and Claire my tutors from college. To get a place on the visit I had to complete an application form and complete a preparation Life Skills Course with Waltraud who organises the visit.

The main reason for me wanting to go to Berlin was to experience the different way of life and meet new people and challenges. The people I was to travel and live with I had only seen in college and never really spoke to so this was a big step for me and was out of my comfort zone. The preparation course was about our life dreams and how we should make dreams that are true to us. The course also allowed me to get to know all the people who were going to Berlin. The course was quite difficult as it made me think about the choices I make in life and what dreams are important and what are not.
My placement was at Hella Club with Shazia a girl’s only youth centre that was a wonderful experience. We prepared meals and juices also celebrated the birthdays of many children who attended. We took part in acting and dancing classes as well as communicating with the children in lessons and games to test our language.

The days were quite short yet very full with lots of activities and involvement in the preparation. The report I received at the end of the placement was brilliant the communication and rapport I had developed with the girl’s was commented on and this to me was the most important. I built up excellent relationships with the staff and girls who attended the programme and felt I made a difference in the short time I was there.

What other things did I do in Berlin while in Berlin we visited the museum, east side gallery, TV tower, theatre and the Zoo. We spent time not only as a group but with the volunteers from Kids and Co which was great fun and some strong friendships were formed and I still keep in touch with many of them. Since leaving Germany I have met up in town (Burnley) with them and we had a party at a local cafe bar with food and cake etc it was amazing to see them all again.

Where we lived in Hellersdorf at Kids and Co we had the chance to prepare food and be independent. Skills we had not learnt before were developed and this allowed me as an individual to become a less reliant person at home. We had the chance to make meals and shop for Breakfast and the main aspect I enjoyed was sitting down with the other 13 people and socialising over breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The experience and opportunity I had was one I thought I would never have had thank you to Ian and Claire my tutors at Burnley College, Steffi and the volunteers at Kids and Co and finally Moses and Waltraud one very inspirational lady who I will never forget. This opportunity should be available to all young people it allows them to fulfil choices and dreams and is life changing it was for me.