The timing was perfect. Because Union’s men's away game against TSG Hoffenheim coincided with the beginning of Berlin's 'winter' holidays, students and trainees were able to participate in this trip, and they gladly cheered the team on in the the Bundesliga game at PreZero-Arena, even though it ultimately did not result in any points.

Young people aged thirteen to twenty-five from three facilities of Internationaler Bund Berlin-Brandenburg gGmbH, a shared living community from Alep e.V., as well as several long-term participants of the project who have now been able to move into their own apartments, also laced up their football boots and competed in a hard-fought tournament at SoccArena Heidelberg.

A stand-out experience was the visit to the Technik-Museum in Sinsheim, which features a unique variety of exhibits from transport and technology history, along with an impressive 3D film about the Hubble Space Telescope.

"Everything was truly great," said Modaser, a 19 year old trainee. "We had a lot of fun and it’s a wonderful memory of this trip."

Last but not least, the evenings (and nights) filled with passionate card and board games will be remembered, along with many unplanned and often funny occurrences and personal conversations, where sometimes bitter memories of experiences fleeing were also discussed.

The foundation of 1. FC Union Berlin "UNION VEREINT. Schulter an Schulter" has once again shown, together with its partners in the welcome alliance, how important it is to invest in social cohesion and to support people who are increasingly subjected to blanket condemnations and discrimination.