Together to the Mortician – Berliner Morgenpost
Ulrike Lessig, a board member of the “Be an Angel” association and former social worker, takes care of both her elderly mother with dementia and refugees in Berlin. Despite her own physical limitations, she handles her daily life with remarkable energy and joy. After the death of her friend Raffi, she took on the responsibility of caring for Raffi’s daughter Lou, whom she refers to as her “gosling child.” Her professional experiences with terminally ill patients have deeply influenced her, fostering a desire to support others in their final moments. For her own funeral, Ulrike wishes to have food from the “Kreuzberger Himmel” restaurant, run by refugees.
Table Top Discussion with Founder Andreas Tölke – WDR 5
Border report Zaporizhia – ZDF
Queues of cars at the checkpoint to the Ukrainian-controlled district of Zaporizhia. Refugees tearfully explain how the so-called referendum is taking place on the other side.
Ukrainian Voices Of Art – Gallery Weekend Berlin
“Ukrainian Voices of Art” – a benefit exhibition of Ukrainian artists. For and by Be an Angel e.V.
“Ukrainian Voices of Art”, is a sales exhibition of current Ukrainian art and at the same time a benefit action by and for Be an Angel e.V. at the Berlin Art Week. All proceeds will benefit the artists as well as Be an Angel e.V..
With the Wheelchair into the Air-Raid Shelter – Deutsche Welle
By early April, the Republic of Moldova had taken in nearly 400,000 Ukrainian refugees, presenting a significant challenge for Europe’s poorest country. The Berlin-based association “Be an Angel,” led by Ulrike Lessig, who is herself wheelchair-bound, supports the refugees, particularly those with disabilities. These individuals often struggle to reach bomb shelters or move around their homes. “Be an Angel” organizes evacuations, medical care, and provides aid such as wheelchairs and hospital beds. Despite these efforts, basic support is lacking. Additionally, the German Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired is helping visually impaired refugees and safely bringing them to Germany.
The new German willingness to help – and why it makes us so happy
Bringing the Refugee Crisis Home in Berlin – The New Yorker
Three weeks after his Berlin apartment was photographed for a lifestyle magazine, Andreas Tölke turned his home into an emergency shelter for refugees. Tölke, a journalist specializing in architecture and design, spontaneously took in three Egyptians, a Bosnian teenager, and a Moldovan. Since then, he has hosted 38 refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Albania, assisting them with bureaucratic tasks, taking them shopping, and helping them integrate into Germany. The willingness of Berliners like Tölke to help reflects a larger cultural movement that critically questions government policies and responses to the refugee crisis.