A teacher in a small town- bringing people together | Elena O Begué, Servas Spain

Servas International Story & Video Competition

Best story prize awarded to Elena Olivera Begué, Servas Spain

This story is not about one physical trip, but the collection of many. This story does not take place in a location but in the hearts of people. This story shares the creation of an interpersonal bond, a link between communities where it was most needed.

Text : 

I met Slava in the summer of 2018. Slava was a volunteer and a Syrian refugee. I went to the small town of Polikastro, near Thessaloniki (Greece) to help out in the migrant crisis and I met her in the class. At the young age of 15 she was helping translate the “European” teachers to the kids. 

After one month together, Slava and I bonded over singing Mamma Mia!, teaching each other Arabic and English and going through some challenging situations in the classroom. 

So, it felt only natural that the following February, during my university break, I would meet her. A month before my visit, Slava was granted her refugee status in Germany (hurray!). The destination changed, but not my determination to meet her again.

In Germany, Slava’s family was waiting for her in a small town called Buxtehude, near Hamburg. They had a 1.5 room space for 6 family members, so it was clear, there was no space for me there. So (as I had been doing during the rest of my trip), I checked the Servas list and found that one host family was living there. 

Wiebke, Dirk and Clara (Servas members) opened their home doors widely to me and when Slava was moved to a German refugee camp a couple of days after her arrival, they helped us understand the situation. In a country where Slava and I were lost with the language, they were there to support us.

Over the years, the support continued. When I went away, Wiebke started teaching German to Slava. When the family was sick with covid, Slava brought them deliciously cooked Syrian meals. 

Both Slava and Wiebke have become, with time, fundamental people in my life. They helped making Buxtehude a place I call home after many, many visits over the years. It warms my heart to know that thanks to Servas I could meet Wiebke (with whom, despite the age difference, we connect on multiple levels, like our worries for the environment and our passion to cook vegetarian meals). It warms my heart that Wiebke and Slava can take care of each other when I am not there to do so. 

Last summer (2024), Slava graduated from high school in Germany. Wiebke attended the ceremony.

Every time I talk with Wiebke, she is amazed by Slava’s progress. When I talk to Slava, she feels blessed by the great teacher she found in a small town in the middle of Germany.