Further Media
Have you arrived at the playground? If so, turn your attention back to the daycare center. This center was built in 1953 as a daycare facility for around 100 children living in the Marienfelde reception center. The historical photo in the guide allows you to take a look inside the building. Schöneberg e.V, a non-profit neighborhood association, currently runs it.
In the 1950s, many families were among the refugees. For children, the experience of fleeing home, the loss of familiar surroundings, and living in a refugee camp could be highly stressful and traumatic. However, their worries and concerns were often overlooked as the adults struggled with the difficult entry process. The childcare facility was intended to offer some relief - at least briefly - for both children and parents.
The city council took over the building in 1964. It was not until 1976 that a new childcare facility was established on the campgrounds again. This time, it was in Building Number 4, on the opposite side from the Stegerwaldstraße, where you have been standing. This temporary daycare center is still operating for children from the temporary shelter who have not yet found a place in a local institution.
While at the playground, please take a moment to listen to some contemporary witness recordings from our archive. The interviewees lived here as children and talk about their memories—some painful, others cheerful.