Category: 06. May

Report for the 6th of May
Greetings guys!
Having the privilege to report on one of the most interesting days of our training I decided to stress upon our field experience throughout the day.
Therefore, I interviewed two of the participants about their point of view of this experience and what impact it had on them.

Key activities on the day: Meeting with refugee and hearing his story and his staying in Germany, legal and life struggle of a migrant.
Having lunch at the bakery run by refugees.

1. How do you rate your overall experience of the day? What did you found interesting and what not?
Elena: My overall experience of the day was mostly good. The refugee’s story was quite intriguing and it really made me think about the mess going on in developing countries. My only gripe is that the meeting went for two long without facilitation and at some point he was repeating the same things again and again.
Stefan: Definitely the most interesting experience of the training. It was my initial desire to meet migrants and get to know their perspective. I was interested in the act of occupation as a way to raise awareness and the response of the German society represented by the authority, the church and the activist groups and individuals. I am afraid to even to think what would have happened if that occurred in my country.

2. What is your impression of the meeting with the refugees in Berlin and getting to know their stories?
Elena: I really liked meeting the refugees in Berlin and hearing from them personally about their struggles.
Stefan: I am really disappointed not to meet a single refugee that was ok with his current situation. I am really happy that the guys we met are safe but I did not see them included or let alone integrated with the society.

3. Did it somehow change your perspective on what difficulties they meet or what their daily life is?
Elena: It definitely changed my perspective and I believe I gained some more insight into the migrant issue.
Stefan:  I did not expect that the administrative procedures are so complicated and diverse.

4. What are your impressions of the refugee-run bakery? Do you consider it as a successful tool for integration of migrants and why?
Elena: The refuges-run bakery is quite successful. I have to say, I was really impressed with the owner’s willingness to offer the resources she had to help those people.
Stefan: Nice place and it confirmed my believe that the help is most productive at a grass root level. Giving someone job and skills definitely address his basic necessities but it is just the first of many steps toward integration. The bakery, on the other hand, serves as a venue where for informal communication between people of different background and that should really help in fighting segregation.

5. How your experience from this day affected your work?
Elena: I am definitely more mindful and have a better understanding of the issues related to migration and inclusion.
Stefan: In no way.