Tommy Weissbecker Haus
SCI Workcamp - 21/08/2000 - 3/09/2000
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Content
1. History of the Tommy Weissbecker house
The Tommy Weissbecker house was founded in the 1970s as part of the non-parliamentary opposition movement. Until 1969 the building was used by the "Eternit" company for lodging foreign workers, and was left abandoned during the years prior to its occupation in March 1973. This was a period when ruins from the war and free space still dominated this area in the city centre, very close to the former wall. In the beginning, the occupation was carried out by homeless young people, and the so called "treber(innen)" (teens who have run away from home). They were part of the "Drugstore", a self-administrated youth centre that was open only during the day. The Tommy Weissbecker house provided them with a place where they could also spend the night!Just like other similar projects, the foundation of the TWH was inspired by criticism on the state sponsored homes and prisons, which were part of the official policy for young people bqack then. The TWH was created by a wide grass-roots movement of solidarity, together with the non-parliamentary opposition groups. As a means to legalise the situation of the house, its members became part of the SSB (an organisation of special social pedagogic activities in Berlin). As a result, on the 2nd of March 1973, a one-year contract was signed with the local government of Berlin.
The young people from the TWH quickly became part of an increasingly politicised movement of the 70s which aimed to cleanse society from all aspects of capitalism. The very name of the house honours Thomas Weissbecker, an organised anarchist killed by the police. After these events, the house became part of the subculture of leftist resistance in the city of Berlin.
For a long period the government and the police tried to shut down the house and the activities taking place there. As they recognised that this was not effective, the city government tried instead to integrate the house as an alternative project. The house is now situated in the centre of the new governmental quarters in the german capital - the national headquarters of the SPD party are right across the street. (It has already been classified as a security risk by some of Berlinīs politicians!)
2. Activities taking place in the house
Many rooms in the house are reserved for all sorts of social and community projects. The pub "Linie 1" is a meeting point for the underground music scene in Berlin; the "Kiez Cuisine" provides meals for the community (homeless people can get them at a reduced price or even for free); there are also rooms where music bands can rehearse, a sports and dance room, and a large room that can be used for activities such as music concerts, political events, cinema, and parties.
3. The SCI workcamp
People from all over Europe have met in the TWH; germans, italians, english, finnish, spanish, swiss and portuguese have been trying to work together by helping to develop the different projects of the house. On a more general level, to try and demonstrate that the cooperation among people belonging to different countries is possible.The work consisted of renovating a room for young homeless and also building a roof to cover the garbage. In these activities the volunteers were helped by two camp leaders and the people who live in the house.
The project of this workcamp has been created by SCI, a voluntary peace organisation founded in 1920 whose aims are to create cooperation among people from different countries. Every year SCI organises a variety of camps which deal with many themes such as poverty, peace, anti-fascism, ecology and solidarity for the "third world", along with several cultural, social and women only projects.
Presseartikel: 5.9.2000
