Yvonne painted the pattern with the stripes herself. Colorful surfaces can be seen on it, in different shapes and sizes. “That’s how I felt,” says the twelve-year-old. “I was in a really good mood!” The entire bus in front of which the girl is standing is as colorful as Yvonne’s pattern. She and five others created the designs in a workshop, and artist Naomi Lawrence then brought everything together. The bus is Munich’s first mobile girls’ meeting point: on weekdays it offers its own meeting point for girls and young women in various parts of the city.
“Rosa Parkt” is the name of the project run by the Initiative for Munich Girls* (Imma). A reference to the African-American civil rights activist Rosa Parks, who once refused to give up her seat on the bus for a white person. The name was chosen in an online survey by girls of different ages. At “Rosa Parkt” the following applies: “Everyone has space!”
At the back, the seats have been converted into a lying area, there are pillows and blankets here, there are books and a small screen. “When I come here, I want to watch TV, chill and sleep,” says 14-year-old Amelie, who also took part in the workshop.
But “Rosa Parkt” has even more to offer. There is a large kitchenette built into the front of the bus, and two rows of seats on opposite sides of the bus are left aside for consultations. “We have no expectations of the girls,” says Julia Güntner, one of the team’s social workers. She and her colleagues are always available for advice, but the girls can also just relax and do nothing.
The inside of the bus has been converted so that the girls can chill. There is even a kitchenette built into the front.
(Photo: Catherina Hess)
It was important to the Imma association to create a safe place that was only aimed at girls and young women. “Girls and women everywhere have to fight for their place,” says Micky Wenngatz, SPD city councilor, whose parliamentary group submitted an application for the project together with the Greens. They are less likely to be found in public spaces than boys and they also use leisure areas such as football pitches less. Imma board member Sabine Wieninger also believes that the bus should be visible in the city: “A statement that girls can and will take their own space.”
On Tuesdays the bus is at Moosacher St.-Martins-Platz, on Wednesdays at Heckenstallerpark in Sendling-Westpark. From mid-November he will also come to Sendling and Neuhausen, from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.