AWO Wesel closes facilities for refugees and migration: Open letter from employees

AWO Wesel closes facilities for refugees and migration: Open letter from employees

In an extraordinary twist, AWO employees in the area of ​​flight, migration and integration recently presented an open letter to draw attention to the insolvency of the AWO Wesel district association. This insolvency has directly led to the closure of several specialist facilities that provide essential assistance to refugees and migrants. These include, among others, the refugee advice centers in Moers, Wesel, Kamp-Lintfort and Xanten as well as a psychosocial center for refugees and migration advice centers in Dinslaken and Moers, such as lokalklick.eu reported.

In the open letter, employees say that these facilities not only represent important contact points, but also offer crisis management in the sense of integration. With a highly committed team of 23 employees who speak over 15 languages, they play an indispensable social role. They see the loss of psychosocial counseling as a major loss for the region, especially given the financial resources of the programs, which have been criticized for years.

Background to the bankruptcy

The insolvency of the AWO Wesel district association is not just a sudden development, but the result of long-lasting economic problems. The offers in the area of ​​escape and migration will be discontinued at the end of 2025 because the projects have not been able to cover costs for years. Cuts in state and federal budgets have further exacerbated the situation, and this decision was made as part of a restructuring process in consultation with external experts, as [rws-verlag.de](https://www.rws-verlag.de/aktuell/newsticker-kanzleien/angebote-im-bereich-wandel-und-migration- Werden-zum-jahrende-einstellen-82593/) reports.

A total of around 20 employees are affected by the recruitment and have already been informed personally. However, AWO Wesel has announced that it will offer most employees a new professional perspective within the district association. Last year, around 8,000 people used their services.

The social responsibility

“We must not allow ourselves to be guided by exclusionary policies,” the employees appeal in their open letter. They clearly criticize the political decisions that lead to tightening conditions for refugees and migrants. This includes the dissolution of the language mediator pool and all courses for immigrants. The AWO employees are calling for a rethink in society and that support for people in need should not suffer because of economic considerations.

Escape is a complex topic. According to awointernational.de it is a form of migration in which people leave their homeland due to life-threatening circumstances. Over 120 million people are displaced worldwide, often due to armed conflicts, extreme poverty or the climate crisis. The AWO traditionally sees itself as part of the solution by supporting socially disadvantaged people, including disadvantaged children, seniors and the homeless.

With the closure of these facilities, the AWO in Wesel is facing a massive challenge. Carrier Jochen Gottke recognizes the commitment of his employees, but sees the criticism as incomprehensible. The area of ​​flight and migration has been in deficit for years and was supported with high subsidies, most recently with 210,000 euros last year.