Asylum Centre Giessen

The Asylum Centre for asylum seekers in Hessen is located at the edge of the city Giessen. There are currently about 2 000 asylum-seekers in Giessen who are in Germany because of various reasons, e.g. political, ethnic, religious, persecution or poverty. Usually they stay at the facility for few months until a decision has been made about their application. Sometimes they are sent to other centers or to other “safe countries” where they entered the European Union, or to their countries of origin. Most of the people living in the Asylum Centre in Giessen are from Turkey, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Eritrea and Balkan countries: Young men, women, children and older people. The asylum seekers live in simple 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. 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 discuss the situation of refugees 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.