Ten years of refugee aid in Eppendorf: success stories and integration!

Ten years of refugee aid in Eppendorf: success stories and integration!

A big reason to celebrate is the successful refugee aid in Eppendorf, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. What once began as a small initiative has now developed into an impressive network that supports numerous refugees. Loud hallobo.de 77 young men who have been in Germany since 2015 have now found permanent employment. This positive development is the result of the tireless work of over 100 volunteers who continually put their heart and soul into helping refugees.

The older ones among us may still remember the beginnings: Refugees were looked after at the school on Ruhrstrasse, while volunteers helped with clothing donations, bicycle tours and doctor's visits. In addition to practical help, the focus was always on language development, because personal encounters and individual support are the keys to success. “1:1 support and tandem accompaniment have proven themselves,” explains Rita Kordt, a founding member of the network and representative of the Catholic parish.

Success stories and support

The commitment is also reflected in the moving stories of the people who have found a new home here. A particularly impressive example is the story of Shirawan Rammo, who has lived in Bochum since 2016, works as a refugee advisor and is retraining to become a healthcare clerk. “I am happy to be able to live here and help in my job,” says Rammo, describing his experiences. He was naturalized in 2022 and tells his story in the book “Between Two Worlds”.

The integration efforts are also supported by the federal government. The focus is on various measures to promote language and integration in order to strengthen refugee women, children and young people. This shows bmbfsfj.bund.de, where, among other things, youth migration services are offered to accompany young people with a migrant background on their way into society and the job market.

Joint activities and integration

Weekly meetings over coffee and cake also offer space for personal exchange and help with language and everyday challenges. These social gatherings are particularly important for the new residents of the Vogelstrasse settlement, who mainly come from Ukraine. Many refugee mothers live here with their children who also rely on support.

An example is the Ruzhynskyi family: Olga has taken an office job while her husband Vead works in a bicycle repair shop. Her son Artem is still going to school and is preparing to graduate from high school. Such success stories show that integration is lived in Eppendorf and not just implemented in theory.

Overall, the refugee aid in Eppendorf proves how important commitment and personal support are. The network can be proud of how many people have been given a new opportunity here and are contributing a little more to social interaction with every encounter.