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Ten years of refugee aid: Strong together in Frankenthal!
Volunteers in Frankenthal celebrate 10 years of helping refugees: looking back on integration, commitment and positive encounters.
Ten years of refugee aid: Strong together in Frankenthal!
It all started ten years ago: The wave of refugees in the fall of 2015 also led to numerous volunteers getting involved in a variety of ways in Frankenthal to support new arrivals. This commitment was recognized last Tuesday in a harmonious celebration organized by the city's integration department. Both current helpers and long-time supporters were invited. Munich, as the current situation shows, shows how important such initiatives are.
With an impressive “journey through time,” the event recalled the challenges and successes of the last ten years. Newspaper articles, photos and personal reports were included that documented the striking moments of refugee aid in Frankenthal. Volunteers reported on positive integration stories that people remember fondly, as well as touching encounters, such as at naturalization ceremonies. In his words, Mayor Bernd Knöppel (CDU) praised the tireless perseverance of those involved.
Diverse offers and support
Many of those currently and formerly involved explained how important support is in integration. Refugee Aid provides valuable services, particularly in the areas of German courses, job searches and childcare. Joint projects, such as the Asylum Café and sports projects, have proven to be excellent centers of excellence. The head of the migration and integration department, Andrea Graber-Jauch, recalled the diverse offerings, which not only include language and integration courses, but also require many social activities.
However, sustainable integration can only succeed if society comes together. According to Malteser, newly arrived people need support in orienting themselves in everyday German life and in learning the language. The House of Cultures in Mainz is also a wonderful example of successful collaboration between a wide variety of people at the community level.
Experiences and challenges
A particularly moving moment of the celebration was the self-written poem by Frédérique Buisson-Koch, chairwoman of the Advisory Board for Migration and Integration. In her lines she discussed special encounters, but also the bureaucratic challenges that many refugees face. Such honors are important to increase the visibility of these issues in society and to give the many volunteers and refugees a voice.
The event concluded with a convivial drink and future engagement plans were discussed. It became clear once again how important voluntary initiatives are, not only for refugees, but also for society as a whole. The Report on civil society recognition culture highlights that contact between volunteers and refugees can lead to better chances of integration, even if many of these aspects have not yet been comprehensively researched.
In summary, the celebration is not only a review of what has been achieved, but also an outlook on the challenges ahead. Volunteering is crucial for integration and creates a good network from which everyone involved benefits.