Gönül Sen-Menzel: A Colorful Facade for the GWZ Etzelstraße

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Bilderstöckchen – The facade of the intercultural community center (GWZ) on Etzelstraße has been redesigned into a colorful eye-catcher that signals from afar that children are the focus here.

The motifs, developed by the young people together with the Cologne artist Gönül Sen-Menzel, are striking and sophisticated. The “Arbeitskreis für das ausländische Kind e.V., Köln” has now presented the redesigned youth facility.

The pictures were created over three months. “We wanted to create something very special here,” says managing director Magnus Ringhandt. “The young people should realize that a lot can be achieved with little effort. The results are impressive.” You can make out a panorama of Etzelstraße, including the once-gray and now white containers, a globe held by hands, and even the head of the facility, Mohammed Scherien Gerdeawal, who was himself surprised that the children immortalized him as a motif on the facade.

Mohammed Scherien Gerdeawal, who has worked here for twelve years, knows the problems of his children. His natural authority helps many children find their way into our society. He builds self-confidence to give the children a sense of their roots.

In conversation with consular attaché Ilker Pak, he explained the many circumstances that have an influence. 100 liters of paint, 50 brushes and 40 paint trays were used for the redesign. “It wasn’t always easy,” said the artist Gönül Sen-Menzel. A lot had to be discussed, coordinated and prepared before the young people could be properly instructed.

For the organization running the center, the redesign project is now complete for the time being. Within one year, besides the new facade, a new streetball court was installed with the support of the Nippes district council, and a new foosball table was purchased.

Before the community center was built, there were no decent facilities for the residents of the neighborhood, most of whom are of Turkish descent. The organization therefore saw a great need for action. “We deliberately wanted to set a counterpoint to the dreariness here,” says Konrad Gilges, chairman of the association. (is)

Original caption: The friends of the Etzelstraße community center are delighted with the colorful new picture.