Helga Grubitzsch wants to help young refugee women

Until 1988 Helga Grubitzsch taught French literature at the University of Bremen. Now, she has decreed that after her death a foundation for female refugees should be founded and held in trust at the University.

“Here in Bremen I became involved with displaced persons in a house in the neighborhood,” relates Helga Grubitzsch on the background to her decision. In this time, she noticed that it was especially the young men from Syria and other Muslim countries that received support. “The girls clearly had to remain in their families, wearing veils and headscarves,” assumed the dedicated, energetic 75-year-old. She wants to change that with her foundation. Talented refugee girls are to be funded via a scholarship during their last three years at high school. “They need to be well equipped with laptop, books and the opportunity to attend cultural events”. In particular, Helga Grubitzsch has her eye on the transition to university. “There should be a person of trust standing by to offer assistance to the scholarship holders,” she says.

“The goals fit in with the University’s diversity strategy”

Helga Grubitzsch attaches great importance to promoting access to studies and establishing the ability to study for young women with a refugee background. “I have no heirs,” says the donor. “That's why I've been thinking for a long time about how I can put my assets to meaningful and sustainable use in the long term through making a testament for after my death.” Together with the University of Bremen Foundation, which is to become a trustee, she has developed statutes and guidelines for the award of scholarships. Helga Grubitzsch is very satisfied with her decision to approach the University Foundation for her endowment idea. As the University’s Director of Finance and Administration Martin Mehrtens underscores: “The goals of the planned foundation fit in well with the University of Bremen’s diversity strategy”. The interface between school and university will be anchored as “a major topic” on campus. Dr. Mehrtens continues: “For refugees, the transition from high school to university studies is still less than satisfactory”. Also the Vice President Diversity and International, Prof. Dr. Eva Feichtner, who was also present at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, showed herself impressed by the foundation's goal and was pleased it is to be realized under the fiduciary umbrella of the University.

About the person:

Helga Grubitzsch was born in Berlin in 1943. She studied Latin, Psychology and Romance Studies in Cologne and Mainz, did her doctorate and later habilitated. Her work as a university lecturer in Bremen was followed by a call to the University of Paderborn, where Professor Grubitzsch subsequently researched and taught the subject comparative literatures. The focus of her interest has always been on women. Numerous books together with female co-authors testify to the results of this work. “Freiheit für die Frauen - Freiheit für das Volk! sozialistische Frauen in Frankreich” (Freedom for women - freedom for the people! Socialist women in France); “Grenzgängerinnen, revolutionäre Frauen im 18. und 19. Jahrhundert” (Frontier Women, Revolutionary Women in the 18th and 19th Centuries); “Weibliche Wirklichkeit und männliche Phantasien” (Female Reality and Male Fantasies); and “Veränderungen kultureller Selbstwahrnehmungen von ostdeutschen und osteuropäischen Frauen nach 1989” (Changes in Cultural Self-Perceptions of East German and Eastern European Women after 1989) are selected titles of her scholarly books. On her return to Bremen, she embarked on a completely new path after her retirement from the academic realm. Following her interests, Helga Grubitzsch has completed a course of therapeutic training: bioenergetics, poetry and bibliotherapy, addiction counseling, existential analysis and logotherapy are now among her additional specialties. Since 2001 she works independently in her own practice in Bremen where she offers courses for creative and biographical writing.

Memories of the University of Bremen in its founding years

Helga Grubitzsch was already involved in the University during its founding years. It annoys her when people talk badly about this time in public. “There were really good offers such as project studies, where a topic could be examined in an interdisciplinary manner from all sides,” she recalls. By way of contrast: In Paderborn at that time “the subjects were as closed as walled battlements”. In Bremen, members of faculty were committed to revolutionizing teacher training. “It should become practice-oriented and socially relevant.” She put her whole heart into this endeavor. Martin Mehrtens affirms: “We have inherited many positive things from our founding years: Interdisciplinary cooperation and research-based learning are just two examples.” Internal cooperation is still one of the great strengths of the University of Bremen. Team spirit is a high value on campus. Founder Grubitzsch likes to hear it: “The University of Bremen is part of my story,” she said.