Living together with refugees - without any red tape

For months, I have been asking myself where exactly I can best contribute to refugee work. I am - fortunately and sometimes challengingly - a versatile person with a range of talents and gifts. So it's not that easy. I started by looking for suitable tasks. I went to a concert with refugees, posted on Facebook with refugees Volunteer Translators  I set up a group to help translate texts that the helpers need, put together inspiring and practical information for the helpers on the Down to Earth blog. And I collected donations from friends, local shops and companies I knew (worth several thousand euros in donations in kind). Most of the donations were for an emergency shelter around the corner from me and the team from Place4Refugees, which looks after refugees who had no accommodation - mainly because of chaos in our administration. I also prayed with Berlin Christians for a change in the situation, coached individual refugees and their helpers, helped spread a Petition against the inhumane conditions in our refugee administration helped out etc. As I was travelling a lot, I wasn't able to commit myself regularly to one place. Nevertheless, the question remained: Where exactly is my place here?

Last Tuesday a citizens' meeting was planned with our mayor, at which the refugee issue and the chaos in Berlin were also to be discussed. Beforehand, I prayed and asked myself what exactly I should address. I was then particularly concerned about the - terribly bureaucratic - arrangement of accommodation for refugees, which prevents refugees from living with people who would actually like to take them in. So I asked Senator Geisel, who had come on behalf of the mayor:

„Many hundreds, probably thousands of Berlin citizens would take in refugees, but don't because they fail to do so due to cumbersome bureaucratic processes. (Spontaneous applause throughout the room). If I - together with the organisations that are involved - were to develop ways that are easier and less bureaucratic, would the Senate support that?“

His answer was - on the condition that it had to be humane, of course - „Yes!“

He then promised to put me in touch with the working group that is endeavouring to find accommodation for refugees.

Wednesday I wrote a short message about the meeting on the wall of the place4refugees Facebook group. The idea of developing a concept was met with a lot of enthusiasm.

Thursday the initiative asked me home.io who want to place refugees in families to see if we could meet spontaneously on the same day. I wrote the first draft of the concept in no time at all and presented it. At the meeting, we agreed to work together and were already able to support each other with important aspects.

Friday  a good acquaintance asked me if I knew of any refugee initiatives, and a friend of mine who owns a graphics agency would like to make a donation before the end of the year.

Saturday the agency boss called. He would donate 6000 euros to us and also support the project with graphics and design services!!! Wow! And what a gift to have not just any old home-made website, but one that is really professional. A senior member of staff from Diakonie Deutschland, who „happened“ to be on board with me that day, promised to help me make contacts. In the evening, I met with the Place4Refugees team, who are helping to organise the project, to have an initial discussion about the concept.

Monday I made a Donation page at Betterplace on. You are welcome to click on „Like“ and give us your opinion. Especially in the initial phase, it would be great if we could get a few „likes“ and positive comments.

Tuesday I met for an initial interview at the agency.

Wednesday I went on my Christmas holidays and spoke to a lawyer on the phone for a while, who gave me tips on writing the legal aspects. And promised to ask an administrative expert about the administrative matters. I then asked my tax advisor about the tax issues (expense allowance). Phew! What a week!!! Almost too fast, even for my taste. But inspiringly good.

A friend said: „It looks like you fell through an open door - no, as if there wasn't actually a door there.“

I have a hunch that the whole thing is the answer to my prayers as to where I should get involved. Developing concepts, designing campaigns, thinking through graphics, mobilising people - I'm relatively good at all that. On an inner impulse, I have already reduced the planned publications for 2016 to a third of the previous amount, so there is still time. Presumably at least.

My goal is that by the end of 2016, we will have found accommodation for a total of 10,000 refugees with Berliners and placed them quickly and efficiently: In shared flats or with families. I already have a working title: Hummingbird (Concept for easy integration of Berlin refugees). At the same time, I also suspect that it won't be a walk in the park. It certainly won't be easy. Anyone who wants to support me with advice, action and / or prayer is welcome to contact me.

2016 will be exciting!