Solidarity with Ukraine

KREUZLINGEN/KYIV – More than 40 refugees from Ukraine have arrived at the Talent-Campus Bodensee Thursday night: young hockey talents at the age of 9 to 17 years, together with their mothers, brothers, and sisters.

Kreuzlingen, Seestrasse 7, shortly after 22pm. The long-awaited bus from Ukraine arrives at last. More than 40 children, teenagers, and their mothers are welcomed with a hot meal at the Bistro of the Talent-Campus Bodensee. Later, they are accommodated in the Villa Furini and in the school's residence on Freiestrasse, where they find a shower and a safe place to sleep. After an exhausting bus journey lasting several days from the Slovakian-Ukrainian border via Budapest to Kreuzlingen, they finally find some rest here.

Signs of solidarity

The Ice Hockey Federation of Ukraine has appealed to “Swiss Ice Hockey” for admittance of their youth hockey players at the beginning of the week. Swiss Olympic has acted as an intermediary and has contacted Talent-Campus Bodensee on account of the Refugee Programme “Coubertin meets Dunant”. We pulled all the strings at once. Thanks to the enormous support of staff, parents, young people, civil protection, and local businesses, all the necessary preparations were taken to receive over 40 refugees from Ukraine from one day to the next. With joint forces, bedding, pillows, blankets, mattresses, slatted frames, hygiene articles, nappies, baby food and groceries were collected within a matter of hours – a strong sign of solidarity.

In need of support

“This is but a first step; a lot remains to be done,” says Reto Ammann, Chairman of the Board of the SBW Haus des Lernens. “Our guests from the war zone are now here with us in Thurgau. We are requesting the city, the canton, and the federal government to support us in the period after primary care. The accommodation of more than 40 persons at such short notice poses challenges in terms of space and supply. With a bit of help, we will transform this emergency operation into a regular operation in the upcoming days.”

Media Contact

Reto Ammann, CEO SBW Haus des Lernens: 076 535 64 88