Page 20 - C.A.L.L. #28 - Spring 2007

The “Socialistic Self-Help Group, Mülheim” (SSM) by Heinz Weinhausen
Self-determined living and learning

Gunnar is a new member of the “Socialistic Self-Help Group,
Mülheim” (SSM) in Cologne. Not long ago he lived in his old Fiat
because he could not stand living in his parents' house anymore.
As it became too cold outside, he visited one of our daily morning
meetings of our self-help group. He had read in “Querkopf” - a
magazine of homeless people - that he could live and work with
us.

Ranne explained to him how the SSM works: “We are about 20 people who live in this old factory
site and every one of us has his or her own room or apartment. We do not have a boss. Everything
that matters for the community is discussed and decided in common in our daily meetings. We
earn our living with our van by moving people’s households and clear up old apartments. If
furniture and other discarded goods are still in good condition and are not needed by us any
longer, we sell them in our second-hand shop. Self-sufficiency is a very important issue in the
SSM.”

”Self-sufficiency, what does it mean?” asks Gunnar and Ranne replies: ”The apartments here are all
reconstructed, expanded and maintained by us. We saw the wood for our ovens by ourselves and
mostly we find our clothing, furniture and equipment for our households amongst donated goods
or leftovers. From Monday to Friday we have lunch collectively. The term “work” is used for all
matters which are important for the group - not just for moneymaking. That means not just the
moving of households or selling of goods is defined as work. Even the care for children is work, as
is someone is sweeping the court, planting flowers or being committed to a citizen’s initiative. We
call our concept “new work”: Every one of us shouldn’t just earn money, they also should show
their social commitment by engaging
themselves in the borough or in other
new projects. We want to be
independent, that’s why we don’t apply
for any appropriation of funds.

Every member of the SSM gets the same
income. Anyone is allowed to join the
group - disregarding his or her level of
education. Even handicapped people are
welcome. At the moment Freddy and
Pit, both mentally disabled, live in the
SSM. We don’t expect any Olympic
performances, but we expect that each
member integrates themselves Socialistic Self-Help Group, Mülheim
according to his/ her possibilities.
Luckily there is a room available. You can come here right now and see if it is the right thing for
you.“

Since the foundation of the SSM in 1979, its concept demonstrates that working without a leader is
possible and that self-determined cooperation creates chances for self-development. No one has to
do the same thing the whole week long. Everyone can and should change between different fields
of work. Everyone can do something that he/she is really interested in. This rule is valid for people
of all social backgrounds of all ages and also especially for people who were pushed to the edge of
society. On the other hand, this way of working includes a lot of tension between people,
especially when agreement between them is not achieved. So a lot of problem solving is being
done in the daily meetings. Many issues can be sorted out and this also shows that not only the
individual can learn from a situation but that for a group coping strategies for conflicts are
developed.

2
2020
200