What can be done...practical help for refugees
Refugees often live in isolation and are happy to have visitors and outside contact. You too can visit a refugee housing center and offer your assistance. For example:
* You can talk to the residents on how they are doing and ask whether they need support.
* You can help refugees make purchases or repairs to their accomodation, but these must be approved first by the relevant authorities.
* You can give a free German language course, for this is often the only way refugees have to learn German.
* You can help school children with their homework.
* You can greatly improve a refugee's day with donations, e.g. bus and phone cards, non-prescription medications or other things that they cannot buy.
* It is often helpful to accompany refugees to government offices or help them write letters in German to the authorities.
What can be done...
...if friends or acquaintances are endangered of being deported?
A residence permit is not a secure permit for an unlimited amount of time. Instead, residence permits are granted for specific purposes, such as for the permanent protection of refugees, for "temporary protection" of immigrants, for studying in Germany, working in Germany, etc. Often, the document notes the time limitation (i.e. the expiration date), and although they can usually be renewed, sometimes even "secure" permits can be revoked. For example, the so-called "tolerated status" (Duldung) does not grant the holder a permanent right to stay or even a secure residence; instead, the holder is often forced to leave and is at risk for deportation. Only good asylum lawyers or specialized clinics can properly understand the situation, and give appropriate assistance.
* Before problems arise, ask your friends or acquaintances about their residence permits so that they seek advice. A lawyer or legal clinic specializing in asylum law can determine early on whether and when someone may be threatened with deportation.
* If a deportation is inevitable, you should look for ways to prevent a forcible removal. There are alternatives, such as "voluntary return" to the country of origin, or to a third country. Asylum law clinics can also provide help in this area.
...politically for refugees?
Those who want to get politically involved in refugee issues have many opportunities. You can:
* participate in the Save Me Campaign, which advocates for the inclusion of vulnerable refugees in Germany. More information can be found at www.save-me-kampagne.de
* organize discussion panels on refugee issues.
* use the media to talk about unjust decisions that have been made about individual refugees.
* sign petitions, organize petitions, and write letters to politicians where you ask them to strongly support the right of refugees to stay.
* many support groups give refugees cash and gift cards so they can purchase necessities.
* protest against the inhuman decisions and deportations that come from the immigration office, the country's interior ministry, or other government agencies.
* ask your local refugee council of federal and local initiatives to get more information about ongoing campaigns and projects. Contact information can be found here >>
