Refugee kids learn German via online coloring book
Interview: Kate MüserNovember 13, 2015
A picture is worth a thousand words. And pictures can also teach words. Illustrator Constanze von Kitzing co-founded an online coloring book that helps refugee kids - and you - learn German.
Image: Constanze von Kitzing
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10 illustrations to help refugees learn German
These fun illustrations are helping refugees learn German. And they can help you too.
Image: Constanze von Kitzing
German words you need every day
How many of these household objects do you know in German? This is one of dozens of black-and-white illustrations that can be used to bridge the language barrier, give refugee children a coloring project, and help teach everyday German vocabulary and culture. Co-founded by illustrator Constanze von Kitzing, the projects brings together drawings by various illustrators across the country.
Image: Alexa Riemann
What's for lunch?
Since various illustrators have donated their skills to the project, many different styles are represented and some images also contain text. This picture not only offers basic food vocabulary, it also explains what Germans like to eat - boiled eggs for breakfast, sausage for lunch and sliced bread for dinner.
Image: Susanne Schiefelbein
The officer is your friend
Authorities like police and firemen are not always seen as friendly helpers in the refugees' home countries. One aim of the drawings is to build trust between the refugees and the German authorities, says co-founder Constanze von Kitzing.
Image: Tanja Graumann
Practicing for an emergency
Hopefully refugee children don't have to experience a real fire, but they can still learn what a "Feuerwehrmann" (fireman) does. Perhaps it's a job they would like to pursue later on. The sign in the image reads "fire drill."
Image: Jeanne Klöpfer
Constructive illustrations
Kids all over the world are fascinated by construction sites - and there are plenty of them in Germany. "Bagger" (excavator) could quickly become young learners' favorite German word.
Image: Anja Meyer
On the wild side
Which animals are kept as pets varies from country to country. These are popular in German households - though dogs and cats are certainly the most common.
Image: Lea Dohle
Worrying about waste
Dealing with trash is practically a hobby in Germany. Everything is strictly separated into bins for paper, glass, recyclables, organic waste, and everything else - in the hope that the latter turns out to be the smallest pile. This illustration is helpful not only for newcomers to Germany, but also serves as a reminder for those who've lived here for a long time.
Image: Alexa Riemann
Dealing with other kids
Many refugee children are sent to school or pre-school - known as "Kindergarten" - very soon after arriving in Germany. This image shows how kids can "teilen" (share) and politely interact with each other - and is also something many of us grown-ups could take to work with us.
Image: Susanne Kuhlendahl
City life
Old and young pedestrians, cars, bikes, dogs, and shops: Going out onto the street in a strange new city can sometimes be overwhelming. This picture breaks the cityscape down to the most important things - like the bakery on every corner.
Image: Sabine Wiemers
Learning can be fun
This image, illustrated by Constanze von Kitzig herself, combines language with play. It can be used to practice words like "Hose" (pants), "Rock" (skirt) and "Jacke" (jacket) before it's cut out and the paper doll is dressed. More illustrations can be found at illustratorenfuerfluechtlinge.de.
Image: Constanze von Kitzing
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Writers, musicians, artists and actors in Germany are getting involved in helping refugees, using their popularity to call for more solidarity, collect donations or criticize racism. In three questions and three answers, DW's series "Why I volunteer" reveals why they decided to help.
DW: What do you do for refugees?
I had read so much about the refugee crisis and seen so much on TV, but wasn't really able to do anything since I'm so busy with my children. But then I posted something on Facebook and asked my friends to give me some ideas of what I could do. One of my friends is a social worker in a refugee center. She said that it's really difficult to come into contact with refugee children without a common language. She asked me whether I could draw some pictures that the kids could color. I thought the idea was good and considered how I could do that more systematically and on a larger scale. Then I met Karina Birkenstock, who was already working on a similar idea. We joined forces, which was very effective.
Constanze von KitzingImage: Frederic Lezmi
In the end, we dropped the idea of doing the illustrations ourselves and decided to launch an international illustrators' campaign called Illustratoren für Flüchtlinge.
Why do you volunteer?
I need to do something. I thought it was really important to be able to do something in an area in which I am a professional. I think it's clear that we should be helping. The good thing about illustrations to color is that they can motivate other people to help. If someone wants to help out in a refugee center, but don't know exactly what they can do, then they can just print out a few of these pictures and take them with them to the refugee home and work or play there with the kids.
What do you hope to achieve?
I would like people to have the opportunity to help and be able to help children in a constructive and effective way. The pictures don't necessarily have to be used in refugee centers. The long-term idea is that they can be used in schools where there are lots of refugee children.
At the age of just six, Constanze von Kitzing decided to become an illustrator. Her childhood dream became reality and, since then, her books have been published all over the world, from Australia to China, and Mexico to South Korea. The award-winning illustrator and mother of two lives and works in Cologne.
