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Mühleberg has had asylum accommodation since 2016. The population was initially skeptical – and now?
The former Mühleberg schoolhouse is an angular concrete building from the 1970s. Red and pink geraniums grow in plastic pots at the entrance. The building is ideal for accommodation, says manager Viktoriia Hofer. «We have a lot of space here; A garden, a gym – that’s ideal.”
Legend:
The asylum accommodation is located in the former schoolhouse in Mühleberg, which was empty in 2016.
SRF/Thomas Pressmann
On this October morning, the residents of the building are cleaning the numerous hallways. Cleaning is now on the agenda in the morning, explains manager Viktoriia Hofer. In fact, it smells like cleaning products and the residents are sweeping and mopping everywhere.
Viktoriia Hofer comes from Ukraine and has been running the accommodation for the Swiss Red Cross for over a year. Not only does the building fit, the asylum accommodation is well anchored in the village; Many volunteers from the community would help – with language courses, for example. “We don’t have any trouble finding volunteers. People want to help, we can feel that.”
One of the residents in the accommodation comes from Cameroon. It’s nice here – but sometimes the people from the village don’t greet her on the street, she says in English. «That’s something special. But they probably have their reasons.” Like the young woman from Cameroon, around 80 people currently live here, including five families with children.
Legend:
Around 80 people are currently living in the asylum accommodation.
SRF/Thomas Pressmann
In 2016, the municipality, together with the cantonal authorities, decided that asylum seekers would move into the empty school building. At an information event, many people present asked questions; they particularly had safety concerns.
Legend:
Many residents vented their anger at an information event in 2016.
SWI swissinfo.ch/Peter Siegenthaler
After the information event, mayor René Maire expected a lot of complaints from the population – but surprisingly there were no complaints. “Our community is very spacious and sparsely populated,” explains Maire today. “It’s easy to stay out of each other’s way.”
Legend:
Sorgelberg in the west of the city of Bern is very rural.
SRF/Thomas Pressmann
And the critical voices that were afraid of attacks or thefts – have these voices simply fallen silent? Are people making a fuss? Mayor René Maire says no: “Many people no longer even notice the new residents.”
The population had no say
One person who didn’t want accommodation in the village is Marc Müller. He is sitting on his terrace in front of a converted farmhouse. He looks directly at the accommodation; cows are grazing behind the house. He didn’t like the fact that the population didn’t have a say at the time. “We were presented with a fait accompli. That was annoying.”
But he admits: operations are running smoothly today. Sometimes it’s a bit loud, his partner notes. “Then we report it to the management team,” she says, noting that the noise situation has improved recently.
Legend:
The accommodation is located in the middle of a residential area.
SRF/Thomas Pressmann
Your neighbor Daniel Rüfenacht is just coming home from work. He has lived here since he was a child. In his opinion, many people in Mühleberg have had a rethink. Many were initially against the accommodation: “The people here gave the asylum seekers a chance and realized that they were quite decent.”
Legend:
Immediately behind the asylum accommodation begins the agricultural land with farms and meadows.
SRF/Thomas Pressmann
The former schoolhouse in Mühleberg with its residents from all over the world – after seven years it seems to be part of the rural community.