Migration on the Move – Stories of Departure, Arrival and Home

As part of our project on migration to and from Germany, the students explored fascinating chapters of history: emigration from German-speaking regions to Chile, Brazil and Texas, as well as migration from Turkey to Germany.

The project focused on key questions: Why do people leave their home country? What do they build in their new home? And what traces do they leave behind?

In Brazil, our journey took us to places such as São Leopoldo and Blumenau, while in Chile we explored Valdivia, Osorno and Puerto Varas. The students discovered how German-speaking immigrants influenced agriculture, trade, crafts, industry and language in these regions.

They then turned their attention to Turkish migration to Germany. Working in small groups, the students researched the topic, developed their own questions and used them to conduct an interview with Hamdyie Göker, whose parents came to Germany as guest workers in the 1970s. The conversation covered food and music, but also personal experiences and family history.

A further interview with Mrs. Evelyn Weinheimer offered insights into the lives of German migrants in Texas after the Second World War. The students also discovered how immigrants brought their language and culture with them and how traces of this heritage can still be found today – even in words such as “wasimmer” or “Wasserkrahn”.

Our journey through the history of migration continues. Some of our next stops will include Vietnam, Tanzania and, of course, Ghana.