📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Since many years now, we offer this successful workcamp together with the protestant community center "Petrusgemeinde". The international volunteers are invited to the Asylum Centre for two weeks to take part in the daily life of the refugees. In the study part of the camp, we want to inform about the situation of refugees both in Germany and Europe, as well as the current developments in the area of asylum policies. We want you to get in contact with the residents of the Asylum Centre so that we can learn about their stories, difficulties and perspectives.The Asylum Centres for asylum seekers in Hessen are located at the edge of the city Giessen. There are currently around 1500 asylum-seekers hosted in former army barracks. The refugees are in Germany because of various reasons, e.g. political, ethnic and religious persecution or poverty. Usually they stay at the facility for few months until a decision will be made about their application. Sometimes they are sent to other centers or to other safe countries, for example, where they originally entered the European Union, or even their countries of origin. Most of the people living in the Asylum Centres in Giessen are from Turkey, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Eritrea and Balkan countries: Young men, women, children and older people. The asylum seekers live in basic conditions and are not allowed to work or leave the district in which they live. Their permission to stay in Germany often is limited and so is their contact with the locals living in the city.
💼 What the programme involves
Together with the refugees, we want to develop and organize common activities, where all groups women, children and men are taken into consideration. In addition, our goal is to raise greater awareness for the needs of the refugees. We will also make contact with students of the university that are willing to take care of the medical issues of the refugees and to pursue the legal issues of the asylum law. Volunteers who are able to speak Turkish, Arabic or Farsi are especially welcome to participate Besides organizing common activities with the refugees, we plan to construct some furniture made from old palettes together. They can be used outside, and will be the nucleus of a meeting point for the center residents.
🏠 Accommodation on site
The workcamp will be hosted by a local protestant church, which is already involved in working with refugees. The premises of the church are plentiful and volunteers will have a lot of space for sleeping, cooking, dining, relaxing, and for both indoor and outdoor activities.
📍 About the location
Giessen, a city populated mostly by students located in the midwest of Germany. It is easily reachable via Frankfurt airport or Frankfurt Hahn.There are plenty of possibilities for leisure time activities: playing football or caning as well as possibilities to visit some other cities. (e.g. Marburg, Frankfurt or Heidelberg).
ℹ️ Additional information
Please bring sleeping bag, pillow if needed, camping mat, work clothes, bathing suit, music, your talents and something specific from your country.