GiB Gemeinsam in Bremen - Inter-agency coordination for voluntary work in the refugee sector
- Wahlen, Engagement und Beteiligung
As part of the cross-agency initiative Gemeinsam in Bremen (Together in Bremen), there are five coordinators for voluntary refugee aid in the city regions of Central, West, East, South and North. They are the central points of contact for volunteers on the one hand and for the actors and providers of refugee aid on the other. In their role, they maintain contact with all refugee shelters, are familiar with the needs there and can therefore arrange donations in kind, time and projects in a targeted manner. The placement of volunteer opportunities is the focus of their work.
In addition, they are available with their expertise to answer questions from all volunteers and interested parties. Among other things, they organize various exchange meetings and support the round tables in the districts. Networking with regional stakeholders (district managers, local authorities, advisory boards, sports clubs, youth leisure centers, associations, institutions, etc.) is an important feature of their work.
Basic information
Volunteering in the refugee sector can take many different forms.
The simplest option is monetary donations. Despite the justified prominence of voluntary help in the form of donations in kind and time, financial support is also extremely welcome. For donors, the process is straightforward and can be handled by the accommodation providers, with a donation receipt if required. The money donated can then be used to make many things possible: from BSAG tickets for the refugees to larger projects. Donors can specify how they would like the funds to be used - so it is usually possible to donate specifically to a shelter or project.
The provision of donations in kind is also an important part of social support. Many shelters lack a wide variety of things. However, not everything is always actually needed on site. In order to coordinate the willingness to donate according to the actual needs, the coordinators are also the contact persons for donations in kind. With their contacts at the shelters, they can quickly provide information on where something is needed in the region and how it can be handed in. This saves a lot of effort, especially for the full-time staff in the shelters.
The most time-consuming, but also very rewarding way to help refugees in Bremen is to donate time. Many hundreds of people are involved in childcare, language support, accompanying people to the authorities and much more. There are many different ways to get involved, and there is also plenty of scope for projects. Would you like to volunteer in this area? Then please get in touch with the coordinators so that we can find the ideal opportunity for you.
Requirements
- Openness to contact with refugees and people from other cultures
- As a rule, presentation of a police clearance certificate
- Ideal: advanced (foreign) language skills (not a prerequisite)
- Awareness that offers of help are only offers - if these are not taken up due to lack of interest or other circumstances, this must be accepted