Friedensau Adventist University Takes Action for Refugees in Germany
June 21, 2016: Students and faculty at Friedensau Adventist University (FAU) in Germany have organized two recent events to reach out in compassion to the refugees arriving in their country from the war in the Middle East. A charity run raised funds for the Language Cafe in the nearby town of Burg where refugee adults and children learn German. A workshop for volunteers working to help refugees took place on the following Sunday (June 5) from 10 am to 5 pm.
Nearly 300 people participated in the run which was followed by a barbecue and picnic with music. Some 70 of the runners were a group of Syrian refugees who visited the university campus that afternoon. Most of the runners were local residents from Friedensau, Burg, Mockern and nearby villages.
The run began at 2 pm in the market square in old center of Friedensau and the course was laid out so that each lap was one kilometer. Donors were asked to pledge an amount per kilometer that their runner completed. Patrice Goumelou completed the longest run, a total of 20 laps.
“The participants were all highly motivated and enjoyed the event,” Samuel Kubesch, one of the key organizers, told Adventist Today. “When they passed through the marketplace, people cheered them on enthusiastically.”
About 50 people attended the workshop. Dr. Tobias Koch, the chancellor of FAU, welcomed the group and the morning was devoted to presentations by faculty, social workers and students to provide an understanding of the needs and an overview of volunteer work with refugees. Dr. Horst Rolly, dean of the school of social sciences, discussed a participative approach to the management and organization of successful work with refugees. Dr. Andreas Bochmann, lecturer in counseling in the school of social sciences, gave a presentation about the trauma experienced by refugees and its consequences. Simone Emmert, lecturer on law in the school of social sciences, explained the asylum procedure in Germany, outlining the legal steps involved in the application process for asylum seeker. Marco Knorr and Peter Bulengela, social workers and FAU students, spoke about intercultural competence in the context of work with refugees.
After the lunch break, the participants met in four groups they exchanged experiences and challenges from their work and developed new skills to cope with difficult situations. In a final session, it was agreed to continue with future events that will include presentations and interactive sessions to exchange experiences. Together for Refugees is an initiative of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Germany, Adventist Welfare Work (AWW), FAU and the Seventh-day Adventist denomination in Germany.
The featured photograph with this article includes a shot of some of the 70 Syrian refugees who participated in the run for charity on May 29.
Due to recent events in Germany and elsewhere, there is growing opposition to allowing ANY refugees from certain countries to immigrate to western democracies.
My wife and I recently moved to another state. I have not yet established communications directly with members of Congress from our new location but my advice for our own government (U.S.) is to NOT ask asylum seekers questions about their religion but, instead, attempt to determine which of them favors the use of coercion with regard to religious beliefs, religious practices or religious prohibitions and bar entry to anyone we are not reasonable sure does not favor that.
Does anyone know whether Germany has adopted such a policy as an alternative to stopping refugee inflow from certain countries altogether?
My understanding is that interviews of political asylum seekers are not “standardized” in Germany, i.e. following specific lists of questions. Rather they are meant to give them a chance to explain their story of persecution. Thus in some countries they are fleeing their religion may be a threat to their lives (Yazidis, Christians) or sexual orientation or their political convictions. Which implies, religious conviction may very well be part of the interview, but doesn’t have to be.
The main political discussion in Germany is focussed on which countries are “safe” to return refugees to. Thus asylum seekers are deported back to some North-African countries (under protest of the opposition parties) – but allegedly not, if they belong to a minority group whose life is threatened.
Thank you, Andreas.
I appreciate the work the work the university is doing. God bless them.