Volunteering to support international students
Freiburg, 19/12/2025
For the past ten years, Regine Schandera has been volunteering to help international students and doctoral candidates at the University of Freiburg. She supports new arrivals as they settle into Freiburg and build a new life for themselves in Germany.
When physics student Kabir from Cameroon finally found a one-room flat in Freiburg in 2015 after a long search, he stood in an empty room without any furniture of his own: not even a bed, wardrobe or table. Regine Schandera from the Institute of Organic Chemistry at the University of Freiburg heard about his plight from a colleague. The foreign language secretary immediately said to herself: “I want to help him.” Together with a colleague, she organised furniture and household items from surrounding communities and a parish within a day. By the evening, Kabir’s new home was fully furnished and he was moved to tears. For Regine Schandera, this was the beginning of a long-standing commitment to international students and doctoral candidates at the University of Freiburg.
The 69-year-old worked as a nurse for 26 years, 14 of which were spent abroad. “I worked in Kerala, India, among other places, and quickly realised how much I, as a foreigner, depended on support to find my way in a new country. I want to give something back based on this experience,” she says. Due to severe back problems, she retrained as a European secretary in 2003 and successfully completed her training two years later. Since 2005, Schandera has been working as a foreign language secretary at the University of Freiburg – first at the Institute of Theology, later at the Institute of Physics. In 2019, she moved to the Institute of Organic Chemistry, where she continues to work part-time even after her retirement. In her everyday office life, she experiences the challenges faced by international students and doctoral candidates on a daily basis and has been supporting them for around ten years now.
“I worked in Kerala, India, among other places, and quickly realised how much I, as a foreigner, depended on support to find my way in a new country. I want to give something back based on this experience.”
Regine Schandera
Foreign language secretary at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Freiburg
Between searching for furniture, visiting government offices and attending doctor‘s appointments
In her individual voluntary work, Schandera works closely with the International Office at the University of Freiburg. “The International Office and I support each other. When they become aware of someone who needs help settling into the city, the staff contact me. Conversely, I can refer ‘my students and doctoral candidates’ to them if they have any questions about their studies or the University,” explains Schandera. International students and doctoral candidates also learn about her work through professors, secretaries and other fellow students.
After work or on weekends, she helps young people with a wide variety of things, from finding an affordable German course to filling out various forms for different government agencies. “As a translation assistant, I accompany new arrivals to various public offices, for example. I also help them find a GP and drive them to doctor’s appointments. If possible, I contact them before they arrive in Freiburg. Because of the time difference, we sometimes talk on the phone at night and go through the first forms together.”
But Schandera’s volunteer work goes even further: “I am always on the lookout for furniture, household items and clothing that I can distribute to students and doctoral candidates,” she reports. “I am also in regular contact with real estate agents and try to find flats or vacant rooms.” Once students or doctoral candidates have found accommodation, they can also rely on Schandera to help them move in. She transports the furniture in her small car or a rental car and helps to furnish the rooms. Being able to offer security and reliability is particularly important to her. “There was even a case where a student had to go to hospital in an emergency. I drove him there at midnight, waited and brought him back home again.”
“Someone who is there for us”
Aravind knows only too well the challenges that come with arriving in a new country and at a new university. In 2022, he will come to Freiburg from Kerala in India to begin his master’s degree at the Institute of Physics. “It was particularly difficult for me to cope with German bureaucracy,” he says. “But settling in and building a network was also not easy in a completely unfamiliar environment.” He learned about Schandera through a fellow student, and she helped him wherever she could to build an independent life in Freiburg.
“Regine makes us feel that we are not alone in our everyday lives, that we have someone here in Freiburg who is there for us in a very special way. That is invaluable,” he says. One memory in particular remains vivid in his mind: “When I was ill, she supported me immediately. She brought me food, did my shopping and even accompanied me to the doctor. I was deeply touched by her thoughtfulness. I will never forget that.”
“Regine makes us feel that we are not alone in our everyday lives, that we have someone here in Freiburg who is there for us in a very special way. That is invaluable.”
Aravind
Student at the Physics Institute, University of Freiburg
Support across all origins
Over the past few years, Schandera has built up a broad network. “First, I asked my friends if anyone had any clothes to donate. Then I asked their friends. Now I also use various messenger groups where people give away items or offer them at low prices,” she explains. If she finds suitable items there, she picks them up after work and brings them directly to the students and doctoral candidates.
She also receives a lot of support for her voluntary work from the international students themselves. She is particularly happy about how helpful they are to each other. “They are all always willing to help each other – regardless of whether they know each other or not. And regardless of their origins. It’s just great and it blows me away every time!” she says with a laugh.
“I regularly look beyond my own horizons, get to know other opinions and perspectives. Through this work I have developed friendships that have lasted for years.”
Regine Schandera
Foreign language secretary at the Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Freiburg
A close community
The students and doctoral candidates not only help each other in everyday life, but also go on trips together with Schandera, celebrate birthdays, passing exams or cultural holidays.
One evening in particular stands out in Schandera’s mind: “Last year, a group of Chinese students cooked for me on my birthday and we celebrated together at home. When we had finished eating, there was a sudden knock at the door and a group of African students stood there with a homemade cake, which we all ate together. I knew nothing about it and was delighted. It showed me once again that you get back much more than you give.”
This is exactly what Schandera appreciates so much about her voluntary work: “I regularly look beyond my own horizons, get to know other opinions and perspectives. Through this work I have developed friendships that have lasted for years.”
She will turn 70 next year and some activities are no longer as easy for her. This makes her desire to find one or two people to support her in her voluntary work – or to provide her with empty basement rooms – all the greater. Time and again, she has to turn down well-preserved items because she lacks storage space. “It would be wonderful if students and doctoral candidates could continue to be supported in this way – no matter what it is they need,” she says.
International Office
The International Office at the University of Freiburg is the central point of contact for international students and doctoral candidates. It advises and supports them in all matters relating to their studies or research stay at the University of Freiburg – from enrolment and financing options to formal matters such as visas and residence permits.