SolidAHRtag 2024

By: Die Alumnivereinigung Up with People Deutschland

Annual Meeting of the German Alumni Club

This year’s annual meeting was unlike any other. In addition to the general assembly, the exchange of experiences, stories, and opinions, we celebrated with a fantastic party. Most importantly, we actively helped repair flood damage in the Ahr Valley. In July 2021, a century flood devastated the region between Koblenz and Bonn. Even today, not everything has been rebuilt. Showing solidarity, we organized the SolidAHRtag to provide much-needed support, still critical even three years later. Carmen (’92C) and Matthias (’96A), in collaboration with the Ahr Valley Foundation, managed everything from project planning to logistics. Alumni from all over Germany came together to participate in the shared effort.

The Start: Arrival and Preparation

Many of us chose to arrive a day early to participate in the SolidAHRtag. The response to this opportunity was overwhelming – 95 alumni took part. On Thursday evening, we gradually gathered at the youth hostel in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler. The organizing team had everything perfectly prepared, assigning tasks based on skills and interests. Everyone knew exactly what to do the next day. The atmosphere was full of anticipation, and we were all eager to get started.

The Projects: Helping Where It’s Needed

Friday morning marked the start of our efforts. In total, there were 16 different projects to which we contributed. Here are some highlights from the work:

Clearing Debris and Tidying Up
One team focused on an old guesthouse that was severely damaged and in desperate need of cleaning. Originally, they were supposed to insulate the ceilings, but plans quickly changed – they had to grab shovels and remove piles of rubble. They spent the entire morning hauling debris until they reached their goal. In the afternoon, they cleaned windows caked with dried Ahr mud and disposed of broken furniture. A typical day in the Ahr Valley. By the evening, everyone was exhausted but proud of their accomplishments. The guesthouse owners were overjoyed.

Youth Room – A Space for the Youth
Another group set up a new youth center with donated furniture. While the adults assembled the kitchen, the younger volunteers took care of sofas and cupboards. The project ran like clockwork. In the end, they created a welcoming space for the local youth, a moment of pride when they saw the finished result and knew it would benefit the community for years to come.

Hard Labor at the Winery
The winery project was for the tough ones. Since the flood had heavily impacted the estate, volunteers manually labeled bottles and set steel posts on a steep slope to support new grapevines. Sore muscles were guaranteed, but the breathtaking view of the Ahr Valley and the satisfaction of genuinely helping the winemaker made it all worthwhile. The day ended with a glass of the winery’s own wine – a perfect conclusion.

Tidying a Shelter for Volunteers
Another team worked on cleaning up a volunteer shelter. A vacant house had been provided by its owners for volunteers to stay in. Our task was to deep-clean the kitchen, wipe down cupboards, and sort through numerous donations. The biggest challenge was an old wooden staircase. Its lacquer coating had to be removed to prepare it for waxing. The noise and dust were intense, but the final result was impressive. The owners were amazed at what we accomplished in just one day.

Impressions and Emotions

SolidAHRtag was an unforgettable experience for all of us. The gratitude of the people and the stories of what the flood had caused moved us deeply. While many of us had seen images of the disaster, witnessing the destruction firsthand was an entirely different experience. At the same time, it was incredibly rewarding to provide hands-on help and see the progress being made. The day left us not only tired but also proud.

Throughout the weekend, we discussed our experiences to process the overwhelming impressions.

Looking Back and Forward

SolidAHRtag was a complete success. During the general assembly, the organizing team received well-deserved applause, especially Carmen, who initiated the effort. She was honored with a traveling trophy, the “Carmen Sauer Award,” which will be presented by the board to particularly dedicated members in the future.

For many of us, the work on this day was an eye-opening experience. The impressions and the success of the collective effort will stay with us. Perhaps similar solidarity projects will become a regular feature of our annual meetings.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Scroll to Top
Loading...