Intercultural Tandems, Frankfurt

Currently, there are about 4,500 refugees living in Frankfurt am Main. Although Frankfurt is one of the economically strongest cities in Germany and has a number of integration offers, there is still a great need for encounter projects between people with and without refugee experience. One reason for this is, for example, the tense housing situation, which forces refugees to remain in cramped emergency and temporary accommodation for longer periods. This housing situation leads to psychological stress and makes contact with the host society more difficult. Due to the resulting isolation of the refugees, many local residents also find it difficult to get in contact with the refugees.

The association “Über den Tellerrand Frankfurt” is part of a network of associations of the same name in various cities in Germany, which work for a society in which a culture of welcome for refugees is a matter of course. Through various encounter programmes, the association promotes the social participation of the refugees and, above all, contact and exchange with local residents. In order to contribute to the integration work in Frankfurt and at the same time to ensure the continuation of the success of the association, help alliance supports the two encounter programs Career-Buddy and Volunteer-Rockets.

The Career-Buddy and Volunteer-Rockets programs are aimed at refugees and local residents in Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main region.

The Career Buddy Programme is aimed at refugees of full age who are not prohibited from working and who can prove that they have either a knowledge of German at level B1 or a very good knowledge of English. The programme starts where the equal participation of refugees in the labour market is not yet guaranteed. The second target group are local workers who, as mentors, want to pass on their knowledge of the German labour market to refugees and strengthen their own intercultural skills.

The Volunteer Rockets Programme is aimed at both local residents and refugees who work in teams and want to actively shape integration through their own encounter projects. German language skills at B1 level or very good English skills are also required.

By cooking and eating together, the meetings of Über den Tellerrand enable refugees to arrive in Frankfurt – true to the philosophy that eating connects and is a good way to exchange ideas about different cultures. Social cohesion, tolerance and mutual respect are to be promoted in the various programmes. By bringing refugees into contact with local people and building friendships outside their communities, language skills are enhanced and self-confidence strengthened on the one hand, and prejudices are broken down on the other. In this way, successful integration can be supported.

The Career Buddy Programme aims to support refugees in entering the German working world. In a six-month mentoring programme, local employees help the refugees, for example by writing an application or preparing for a job interview. The programme comprises one month of preparation and one month of follow-up time. In addition, the refugees receive professional input from experts at regular network meetings, for example on the topics of access to the training and labour market and human resources.

In the Volunteer Rockets Programme, refugees and local residents work together in tandems or small teams to develop their own encounter projects, which are then implemented. In addition to individual meetings, workshops are held every three weeks to support and advise the intercultural teams in their planning. The close personal supervision promotes the volunteer project ideas and at the same time reduces cultural and language barriers.

With your donation you will help us to continue supporting both the Job Buddy Program and the Volunteer Rockets Program and thus contribute to successful integration work in Germany.