The Refugee Council for Leipzig has implemented the 'Arriving in Leipzig Sponsors for refugees' programme on behalf of the city of Leipzig. It attracts sponsors as well as interested refugees and then sets up suitable partnerships. The organisation supports these partnerships by giving advice and support where necessary. Furthermore, all sponsors are trained before the partnership commences and further training is offered regularly throughout the programme.
The programme is supported by the Social Welfare Office (Sozialamt) with a budget of 45,000 Euros a year.
The principles of the sponsorship programme are:
- Partnerships are established on a voluntary basis.
- Sponsors offer their help on a voluntary basis and do not receive payment
- Sponsors give the refugees help so they can help themselves, this means that help should be available where necessary and the aim is for the refugees to always take care of their affairs independently.
- The refugee and sponsor agree the terms of their partnerships themselves.
- The length of the partnership is different for each individual case and is determined by necessity.
- Sponsors take part in a training course before the partnership commences.
Possible aspects of the partnership:
- Giving everyday support, including helping them to go shopping
- Introducing them to the culture and city (for example city tour)
- Giving support in relation to finding a residence (helping by visiting potential places of residence together)
- Helping them to learn the language, for example through regular meetings allowing the refugee to learn and use the German language.
- Searching for suitable organisations for sport and cultural activities.
- The partnership should cater to the needs and interests of the partners involved.
Who can become a sponsor?
Sponsors must be of full age and have good social skills. You should be friendly, fair and open with others. You yourself should be willing to learn and be open to cultural differences. You respect other people's personal boundaries. Sponsors should be prepared and willing to support people from other countries who are going through a difficult period in their life with cultural exchange and help. Furthermore, you should be prepared to support them according to their needs and assets.
Sponsors need to show an extended police certificate of good conduct. This type of certificate is provided free of charge for voluntary purposes.
Contact
Flüchtlingsrat Leipzig e. V.
Telephone: 0341 9613872
E-Mail: fr@fluechtlingsrat-lpz.org
or
Sozialamt
Telephone: 0341 123-4523
E-Mail: WiSo-Migranten@leipzig.de