Tenacious devotion spanning over a decade: Refugee Association greets in Düsseldorf
In the heart of Düsseldorf, an organisation named Welcome Refugees in Düsseldorf (Fwi-D) is making a significant impact on the lives of refugees. With a decade of dedication to this cause, Fwi-D has grown from a group of volunteers to a registered association with three locations.
The primary goal of Fwi-D is to create support networks and friendships that make daily life easier and promote integration, giving people a perspective. This mission extends to refugees from all countries residing in Düsseldorf, with a special focus on those from Ukraine due to the ongoing crisis there.
Current Initiatives and Projects
Fwi-D's efforts are multifaceted, encompassing language and cultural integration programs, educational support, employment and skills development, legal and social counseling, community building, and special support for Ukrainian refugees.
- Language and Cultural Integration Programs Fwi-D organises German language courses, cultural orientation sessions, and conversational groups to help refugees develop essential communication skills and understand local customs.
- Educational Support and School Integration They provide assistance for children and young refugees to enter local schools, including tutoring and homework help to bridge educational gaps caused by displacement.
- Employment and Skills Development The organisation offers vocational training and job placement support, helping refugees gain employment and become self-sufficient. This includes career counseling and workshops on job application processes in Germany.
- Legal and Social Counseling Fwi-D provides guidance on asylum procedures, residency permits, and access to social services, ensuring refugees can navigate German bureaucracy effectively.
- Community Building and Social Inclusion They facilitate social events, mentoring programs, and volunteer matching to foster connections between refugees and local residents, enhancing social integration and mutual understanding.
- Special Support for Ukrainian Refugees Given the conflict in Ukraine, Fwi-D has tailored some of its services to address the psychological trauma and urgent needs of Ukrainian refugees, including partnerships with healthcare providers and trauma counselors.
Funding Sources
Fwi-D's work is made possible through a combination of public and private funding. They receive grants from the City of Düsseldorf and federal/state government programs dedicated to refugee integration. Some projects are funded through EU funds targeting humanitarian aid and integration initiatives.
The organisation also relies on donations from individuals, businesses, and local foundations. Collaborations with other organisations sometimes provide shared resources or project-specific funding.
Expanding Support and Services
The association's diverse offers are published on its website and social media. Some of their initiatives include daily language cafés, cafés for women and seniors, art therapeutic offers, a depression group, relaxation exercises, workshops on training/ career orientation, and a women's group on women's rights and self-determination.
In response to the concern of loneliness among refugees living in their own apartments, Fwi-D is creating meeting points such as a new men's café starting in July.
The project aims to expand psychosocial support for refugees and optimize work for children, young people, and families. It includes individual case support, psychological counseling, and group offers for children and adults.
For the latest updates, you can look out for more detailed reports or contact Fwi-D directly. The association employs seven full-time employees and involves around 120 volunteers. Many of the association's offers can only be carried out through the support of sponsors.
The association has three locations: an advice center at Heinz Schmoele Street behind the main station, a lobby of a hotel on Klosterstraße, and a coworking space in the Schadow Arkaden, provided by the Rheinische Post media group.
The board of the association, including Ansgar Dücker, Dagmar Lundvall, and Heinz-Peter Schramm, works on a voluntary basis. What started as a collaboration of volunteers in 2014 has evolved into a registered association with three locations, demonstrating the commitment and impact of Fwi-D in supporting the integration of refugees in Düsseldorf.
- Fwi-D's assortment of initiatives, including language and cultural programs, educational support, and employment development, cater to the lifestyle and personal growth of refugees in Düsseldorf.
- The organisation's home-and-garden projects, such as daily language cafés and cafés for specific demographics, foster social interaction and community building.
- Fwi-D's educational efforts, like tutoring and school integration, are integral components of their overall education-and-self-development strategy.
- Job-search workshops and career counseling offered by Fwi-D contribute significantly to the career-development of refugees in Düsseldorf.
- In the realm of entertainment, Fwi-D organises art therapeutic offers and workshops on training/career orientation, offering refugees creative outlets and opportunities for skill-training.
- Fwi-D's political involvement, such as advocating for women's rights and self-determination, illustrates their engagement with both general-news and contemporary issues like crime-and-justice.
