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Doors to the Past - 150 years "Augustaschacht"

Camp code:

DE-SCI 1.34

Country:

Germany

Start Date:

20 Jul 2024

End Date:

03 Aug 2024

Topic:

1: Antiracism, antifascism, remembrance

Work Types:

Archaeology / Art / Construction

Number of volunteers:

17

International age:

18 - 99

National age:

16 - 99

Spoken Language:

English

Description: For the past 150 years, the "Augustaschacht" has rested on the edge of the mountain "Hüggel", bearing the marks of time. Originally constructed as an industrial building, it underwent numerous changes in use over the years. From a pump house to living quarters for workers, it was first converted into a prisoner-of-war camp under National Socialism and later used as a Gestapo labour education camp, a topic that is now covered in the building's exhibition. After the end of the war, bombed-out and displaced German families lived here until the 1970s. Volunteers are invited to explore the complex and ambivalent history of the site, raise their awareness of the lessons learnt from the history of the Second World War and learn more about the German culture of remembrance.

Type of Work: When the building was converted into a memorial centre, the old doors and windows were removed for fire safety reasons. They have been in the attic ever since. They are now to be put to archival use and, like other archaeological finds, cleaned, measured, photographed and recorded in a database. The purpose of the work camp is to record and prepare these items so that they can also be presented to visitors as an open archive. The volunteers will also learn about the background to these artefacts, some of which are testimonies to the people imprisoned here. The attic is the part of the building that was changed the least during the remodelling work, so the work will be dusty and dirty.

Study Theme: Using a specific example, the volunteers will explore the topics of the Gestapo and forced labour as well as National Socialist history, its causes and consequences. This year, the Au-gustaschacht looks back on 150 years of existence. Participants will get to know the different layers of the building's history, with a focus on the history of the Ohrbeck labour education camp, which is the subject of the permanent exhibition that was renewed in 2020. Excursions are planned to other memorial sites in Germany and the Netherlands that are related to the topic.

Accommodation: At the community center of the Evangelical Lutheran Christuskirche in Hasbergen. Partici-pants are required to bring their own air mattresses and sleeping bags.

Language: english

Requirements: Interest in new perspectives and intercultural encounters, German memory culture, and the topic of forced labor. Good knowledge of the English language is required.

Approximate Location: Hasbergen is a small community, west of the city of Osnabrück, on the edge of the TER-RA.vita Nature and Geopark, which includes the "Hüggel", a very scenic mountain range that is part of the "Teutoburg Forest" low mountain range. Walks and hikes are possible here, and there is also a geological nature trail. A special highlight is the Silbersee lake with its quarry. In Hasbergen there is a natural swimming pool with the opportunity to swim. A trip to Osnabrück with its idyllic old town centre is also possible.

Notes: INCOMING FEE 50 € for volunteers applying via partner organisations and contacts of SCI: https://sci-d.de/incomingfee

Organization Description: This workcamp is organized by the German branch of Service Civil International (SCI). SCI Germany was founded in 1946 and is approved as a non-profit organisation. We are one of the oldest peace and volunteer organisations. SCI Germany aims to promote peace, non-violence, international solidarity, social justice, sustainable development and cross-cultural exchange through international voluntary work. We cooperate with a network of branches and partners in more than 90 countries. Every year, SCI Germany organizes about 50 international workcamps in Germany.