3 Getting started 3.1 Living Once you arrive in Potsdam from the Central Reception Centre, to start with you will be assigned a communal shelter or a housing group. Here you will live with people of different cultural backgrounds. In order to live together as harmoniously as possible it is necessary to treat one another with respect and tolerance. This includes compliance with the house rules. The staff on site is more than happy to explain these to you. Your points of contact, who will be advising and accompanying you over the coming period in the shelter are: The shelter managers: The shelter managers decide how and where you are housed in the facility. They also decide on who shares a room with whom; however, in doing so they are mindful of ethnic, cultural and religious differences or similarities. As a resident you have a right to privacy, i.e. your room must be lockable and no one may enter your room without your permission. The shelter managers are also in charge of distributing the “additional, not -for-profit work” (= gemeinnützliche zusätzliche Arbeit or gzA/ see the section entitled “Work”) within your communal shelter and will try to distribute this fairly among the residents. In many facilities, shelter managers are also social workers. For more information: The flyer “What can refugee shelter managers do” can be downloaded here: www.fluechtlingsrat-brandenburg.de/tipps-fur-den-fluchtlingsalltag/was-darf-die- heimleitung . The flyer is available in eight languages. The social workers: These are your main points of contact when it comes to making appointments with and visiting public authorities or administrative offices, but also if you need to see a doctor. The social workers can assist you with important appointments and, if necessary, organize a language professional or an interpreter for you. (See the section entitled “Language”) The duration of your stay in the transitional shelter is likely to amount to a maximum of 12 months, after which you are usually able to move into your own apartment. The exact time at which you are able to leave the communal shelter, however, is a matter of discretion of the Sozialamt (Social Assistance Office) – and certain conditions are attached to this. You may apply in writing to the Sozialamt to be housed in an apartment; reasons for such application
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3 Getting started
3.1 Living
Once you arrive in Potsdam from the Central Reception Centre, to start with you will be
assigned a communal shelter or a housing group. Here you will live with people of different
cultural backgrounds. In order to live together as harmoniously as possible it is necessary to
treat one another with respect and tolerance. This includes compliance with the house rules.
The staff on site is more than happy to explain these to you. Your points of contact, who will
be advising and accompanying you over the coming period in the shelter are:
The shelter managers: The shelter managers decide how and where you are housed in the
facility. They also decide on who shares a room with whom; however, in doing so they are
mindful of ethnic, cultural and religious differences or similarities. As a resident you have a
right to privacy, i.e. your room must be lockable and no one may enter your room without
your permission.
The shelter managers are also in charge of distributing the “additional, not-for-profit work” (=
gemeinnützliche zusätzliche Arbeit or gzA/ see the section entitled “Work”) within your
communal shelter and will try to distribute this fairly among the residents. In many facilities,
shelter managers are also social workers.
For more information:
The flyer “What can refugee shelter managers do” can be downloaded here:
Germany operates a so-called residence obligation for tolerated persons and asylum-
seekers. If you are housed here in Potsdam, you are permitted to reside in and visit the
German states of Brandenburg and Berlin only. This means you may reside in or visit those
states without fear of a penalty should your documents be inspected.
3.2 Attending administrative offices
Immediately on the first working day after your arrival in Potsdam, there are 3 things that you
must do urgently:
1. Register with the Bürgerservice (citizens’ service) 2. Register with the Ausländerbehörde (foreigners’ registration office) 3. Make contact with the Sozialamt (social assistance office)
If required, you will be accompanied by a member of staff of your shelter, a volunteer helper
or a language professional in your appointments with administrative offices and the related
registration with the city of Potsdam.
PLEASE NOTE: Why do you have to attend these administrative offices? Because the state
of Brandenburg has a “registration duty”, too. This means that every person who moves into
a home in Potsdam or the surrounding area has to register with the
Einwohnermeldeamt/Bürgerservice (registration office/citizens’ service). With your
3.3 Dealing with letters from administrative offices
During your stay in Germany, you will frequently need to communicate with public offices and
authorities. In Germany, any communications with such offices are in writing and need to
comply with certain set rules; there are quite a few points that need to be considered so as
not to jeopardize your asylum claim:
PLEASE NOTE: You need to open any letters you receive from public offices or authorities
without delay! You may be asked to comply with certain (response) time-limits, failing which
sanctions may be imposed against you (e.g. the suspension of cash benefits or similar).
Make sure you keep the envelope as proof because it shows the postmark with the date.
Don’t worry if you don’t understand the contents – “German officialise” is sometimes very
difficult to understand even for people whose mother tongue is German.
Make sure you get in touch with the social worker responsible for you or another specialist –
they will help you to understand the contents of the letter and to react accordingly.
If you live in a communal shelter where you have no private post box, make sure you
enquire in the office of the social institution which runs your shelter whether there have been
any letters for you; you should make such enquiries every other day.
3.4 Who can you turn to if you have any questions?
The asylum procedure is very complex and determines whether and for how long you may
stay in Germany. It is therefore extremely important that you seek personal advice from
experts as to your own legal position as early as possible! The following facility offers
independent free advice and support in addition to the assistance given by the social
workers:
Beratungsfachdienst für MigrantInnen des Diakonischen Werkes Potsdam e.V. (specialist advisory service for migrants run by the charitable organization of protestant churches) Rudolf-Breitscheid-Str- 64 (Hinterhaus), 14482 Potsdam Telephone: 0331-2008381 (Fr. Böhme) Email: [email protected]
The advisory service of the Diakonisches Werk is aimed particularly at asylum seekers,
tolerated persons and refugees resident on humanitarian grounds.
If you find yourself in an acute emergency, there are various free emergency numbers that
you can call in Germany:
POLICE: 110
FIRE SERVICES: 112
RESCUE SERVICES: 112
The police in Germany
The police is responsible for ensuring the safety of all citizens.
It protects people from danger and is responsible for investigating and preventing crimes.
Don’t be afraid – the police in Germany does not act arbitrarily or corruptly, but on a
democratic and legal basis.
If you wish to file a charge to the police (bicycle theft, robbery or similar) you can go straight
to a police station:
Polizeiwache Potsdam Mitte (police station Potsdam centre) Henning-von Tresckow- Str. 9-13, 14467 Potsdam Telephone: 0331-55080
3.6 Potsdam hospitals
In acute emergency situations you may visit the accident and emergency departments of one
the two Potsdam hospitals at any time.
Klinikum Ernst von Bergmann Charlottenstr. 72, 14467 Potsdam Children’s Emergency Department of Klinikum Ernst von Bergmann Charlottenstr. 72, 14467 Potsdam St. Josef hospital, Potsdam-Sanssouci Allee nach Sanssouci 7, 14471 Potsdam
4. Language
4.1. Language Courses
The city of Potsdam provides German courses for refugees going through the asylum
process or for foreigners with tolerated residence status. A course lasts 200 hours in
total and you do not have to pay for it.
In addition, people who have received a residence permit for at least one year are legally
entitled to attend an integration course (see Section 44 and Section 44a of the German
Residence Act (German: "§§44, 44a AufenthG"). It lasts approximately 600 hours. The topics
covered include cultural studies, the German health system, living and working in Germany,
education and parenting. You will also learn how to write letters, make telephone calls, fill in
application forms and write job applications. There is an exam at the end of this course.
It is possible that you might be required to attend this integration course. If this is the case
and you do not attend, you might be subject to sanctions and even risk losing your residence
permit. Under certain circumstances you might have to pay 1.20€ per hour to cover part of
the integration course fee. You can, however, apply to have the entire fee waived. In some
cases refugees can take part in job-related language courses.
You can find a list of language course providers in Potsdam here:
Berlin-Brandenburgische Auslandsgesellschaft (BBAG) e. V.
Does your child have learning difficulties, or does she/he need help with homework?
The following organizations in Potsdam offer free learning support for children and young
people with a migration background alongside the Youth Migration Service:
Studentisches Kulturzentrum Potsdam – Nachhilfe für Kinder aus
Migrantenfamilien
(Potsdam Student Cultural Centre – Learning Support for Children from Migrant
Families)
Hermann-Elflein-Strasse 10, 14467 Potsdam Telephone: 0331-6471014 When: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 16.00–18.00 Where: always in the Seminar Room (through the front door, then up the stairs on the left)
8. Mental and psychological pain: help during crises,
psychological counseling and psychotherapy
The events you lived through day in day out in your country of origin and which forced you to
become a refugee, as well as the journey itself, will have caused you a great deal of stress.
Now that you are safe, you need to allow yourself “time to arrive”. At first, although you may
feel relieved, your new life here in Germany is bound to seem strange. You also have to deal
with the uncertainty about what the future will bring, how your asylum procedure will go and
perhaps also concern about relatives and friends you had to leave behind. Once these
immediate pressures start to ease, however, feelings, thoughts, painful memories and even
physical reactions to what you have experienced may begin to surface. Terrifying images in
your head, feelings of depression or shock, wanting to avoid other people’s company,
experiencing extreme agitation, irritability, anxiety, despair, difficulty sleeping or
concentrating and so on: as human beings, we react in many different ways to the extreme
life events that you most likely suffered. Feelings, thoughts and behaviors such as these are
not unusual or signs of “madness”, especially given the difficult situation in which you found
yourself as a refugee. You may start to find them becoming persistent, taking over and
becoming oppressive. It may be that people around you have noticed this more clearly than
you yourself.
If there is anything that is preoccupying you or putting you under constant strain, we would
like to encourage you not to keep it to yourself. Do not hesitate to ask for the help you
need to feel better. Talking with the other residents in the home, who may have had the
same experiences as you, and above all with people you trust, may itself help to relieve
some of the strain. The local social workers also want to offer you this crucial “psychological
support”, in addition to practical, day-to-day assistance. Please tell the social workers clearly
if you need further assistance, since:
Psychologists are available to provide counseling and professional therapeutic
assistance! Psychotherapy can alleviate psychological suffering and mental problems.
If psychotherapy is necessary, it is provided under Sections 4 and 6 of the Asylum Seekers
Benefit Act (AsylbLG). If your asylum application is currently being processed, please contact
the Social Welfare Office (Sozialamt). They will explain the administrative procedure for
obtaining coverage of the costs in your case. Once you are officially recognized as a
person with a right to asylum, or have refugee status, the German health insurance funds are
responsible for funding care.
IMPORTANT: Persons with mental disorders or persons who have been subjected to torture,
rape or other serious forms of mental, physical or sexual violence are considered “particularly
vulnerable” and are entitled to appropriate medical and psychological treatment (this is stated
in European Commission Directives: EU Directives 2003/9/EC and 2013/33/EU). A diagnosis
of a mental illness could have an effect on your asylum proceedings.
If you have problems implementing your claim for funding of the treatment of costs or
travel and interpreting costs by the Social Welfare Office, please contact your social worker
or help centers such as:
Beratungsfachdienst für MigrantInnen des Diakonischen Werkes Potsdam e.V.
(Special advisory services for migrants of the “Diakonischen Werkes Potsdam e.V.”)
Rudolf-Breitscheid-Str. 64, Hinterhaus (rear building), 14482 Potsdam One contact person there is Ms. Katrin Böhme Telephone: 0331-2008381 Email: [email protected] Internet: www.diakonisches-werk-potsdam.de/beratungsfachdienst-für-migrantinnen/
You are then entitled to an initial appointment with a doctor or psychologist. At this initial one-
to-one session you can discuss what would be the most appropriate form of counseling or
therapy for you and how to proceed. The three best known approaches are cognitive
behavior therapy, psychodynamic psychotherapy and analytical psychotherapy. Post-trauma
therapy may also be appropriate in some cases.
In order for the therapy to succeed, it is essential that you are able to talk freely in your own
language. It is not always easy to find a qualified interpreter to accompany you to the
appointment. It is essential to be accompanied by one of these professionals to ensure the
process is professional and confidential. It is therefore not advisable to use relatives or fellow
residents from your hostel as interpreters.
The language barrier should not be seen as an obstacle for you.
In Potsdam, both politicians and officials in administration and also the citizens themselves,
welcome you wholeheartedly as a new resident to the city – which, for the foreseeable future, is
going to be “your city”, too! We hope that what might initially feel like “life in a foreign land” will soon
turn into a trusting, supportive and vibrant life together with other Potsdam residents, and that you
will build and enjoy your new life in your own personal way. Many citizens of Potsdam are
“newcomers” who originate from other regions, states or nations.
At the same time we welcome the enrichment that you, as members of a different culture, will bring
to our urban community. We would like to encourage you to exercise your rights and
obligations in the spirit of human understanding, with tolerance, with a willingness to
compromise but also with confidence.
After you have taken your time to settle in Potsdam, please accept our invitation to participate
actively in shaping communal life. Your suggestions, additions, criticism and suggestions for
improvement are a valuable contribution to our society, which we appreciate. Should you
occasionally encounter difficulties with “the Germans” or “the system”, do not despair – maybe a
little relaxed, forgiving humour will help?
Our basic democratic order in Germany is based on the idea that anyone can and should participate
societally, socially and politically. Your involvement – for example here in your immediate
environment, your district, the city of Potsdam, the state of Brandenburg – is strongly encouraged.
This is the only way we can shape communal life (whether locally or nationwide) together. After all,
in day-to-day human and social coexistence, it is vital to take into account different perspectives and
exchange different points of view. We would like to encourage you to participate in public
discussions, in in order to resolve any problems.
In the state capital Potsdam there is, for instance, an office for citizen participation (Büro für
Bürgerbeteiligung). All residents of Potsdam can use this office in order to obtain information from
representatives of the municipal administration and an unaffiliated agency about your options for
participating including political planning and decision-making.
Verwaltungsinternes Büro – Landeshauptstadt Potsdam (office within public administration – state capital Potsdam) Telephone: 0331-2891055 and -1056 Email: [email protected] Postal address: Landeshauptstadt Potsdam
Fachbereich Kommunikation, Wirtschaft und Beteiligung (Department for communication, economic matters and participation) Büro für Bürgerbeteiligung Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 79-81, 14469 Potsdam
Verwaltungsexternes Büro (mitmachen e.V.) (office outside of public administration (“participate” association)) Telephone: 0331-5881258 Email: [email protected]
For further information please go to: www.Buergerbeteiligung-Potsdam.de
By joining in with activities in your district that are aimed at bringing together “old and new
neighbours”, i.e. migrants and other residents in the district, you will be able to make contact with
your neighbours.
There is currently no specific “neighbourhood network” in Potsdam city centre, where residents can
get involved in their spare time. The following contacts might still be of interest to you because they
involve activities in the various districts of the city and the staff involved also have the inner-city
15. 2 The representation of your interests as a refugee: Integration and assistance in cases of discrimination, conflict or violence
While in many areas of urban life the “welcoming culture” that Germany aspires to is alive and well,
some misunderstandings and conflicts might still arise. At times, migrants and refugees might
encounter disrespectful, harassing, intrusive or even violent behaviour from other people. Or there
might be situations in which you feel you are not treated appropriately or taken seriously. Do not
accept this passively but resist all manner of attacks against your person that you find
unacceptable. You are in a position to provide valuable information regarding where, in your
experience, an integration of migrants in our city still requires improvement. Above all, you should
indicate if you evidently feel discriminated against – for example, if you get the impression that
people demean you, that bureaucratic processes place you at a disadvantage or similar.
Your fellow citizens to whom you have already made contact as well as various organizations are
on hand to help you in this regard, should you need assistance. But in any case, your local social
workers are your first port of call should you encounter such problems.
15.3 The representation of your interests in the state capital Potsdam You have the option of raising your concerns or complaints directly and personally with various
political and administrative bodies of the state capital Potsdam. Some official contacts are listed
below:
The Commissioner for Migration and Integration, Ms Magdolna Grasnick,
can advise you on issues that are relevant to migration and integration. She campaigns for the
abolition of hostilities towards foreigners and promotes integration on many municipal levels.
Beigeordnete “für Soziales, Jugend, Gesundheit und Ordnung” (councillor for matters
concerning social affairs, youth and public order) and thus also for the interests and social security
of refugees is currently:
Ms Elona Müller- Preinesberger Address for visitors: Stadthaus Potsdam, Friedrich-Ebert-Straße 79 / 81, 14469 Potsdam Postal address: Landeshauptstadt Potsdam, 14461 Potsdam Telephone: 0331-2893001 Email: [email protected]
You may also turn to the city council. The members of the city council have been elected by the
citizens of Potsdam. When passing resolutions as an institution/body, the city council therefore
constitutes the supreme representational body of the citizens. The city council also has a special
committee that hears petitions and complaints.
Büro der Stadtverordnetenversammlung (office of the city council) Landeshauptstadt Potsdam Stadthaus Potsdam, Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 79/81, 14469 Potsdam SVV-Büro (office of the city council): Room 268 - 274 Email: [email protected]
Or you could write a letter or an email to the Mayor, Jann Jakobs, the current head of the city
administration, should you want to raise a particular issue and make it public.
Landeshauptstadt Potsdam- Der Oberbürgermeister (state capital Potsdam – the Mayor) Friedrich-Ebert-Str. 79/81,14469 Potsdam Telephone: 0331-2890 Email: [email protected]
The Mayor is also the chairman of the initiative “Potsdam! bekennt Farbe” (Potsdam shows its
colours) – an alliance promoting tolerance, non-violence and a peaceful coexistence. For further
information in this regard, please visit our website at:
Antidiskriminierungsstelle des Bundes (German anti-discrimination office) Glinkastraße 24, 10117 Berlin Telephone (switchboard): 030-185551855 Telephone advice in the event of discrimination: 030-185551865 (Monday to Friday 9-12, 13-15) Email: [email protected]
A group of young refugees in Brandenburg, which is also represented throughout Germany, has
joined up under the name “Jugendliche ohne Grenzen” (youth without borders). They organize
joint activities and jointly campaign for their rights – e.g. for the right to stay and the right to
participate in the education system. We would like to invite you, as young people, to participate in
this project. Dates for consultations and meetings in Potsdam can be found under:
Jugendliche ohne Grenzen (youth without borders) Friedrich-Engels-Str. 22, 14482 Potsdam www.facebook.com/jogs.brandenburg Email: [email protected]
The following is an association of committed individuals and various social and religious
organizations in Brandenburg:
Aktionsbündnis gegen Gewalt, Rechtsextremismus und Fremdenfeindlichkeit (action alliance against violence, right-wing extremism and xenophobia) Mittelstraße 38/39, 14467 Potsdam Telephone: 0331-505824-26, -27, -28 Email: [email protected] Internet: www.aktionsbuendnis-brandenburg.de
The PAVLO association is aimed at strengthening public awareness about the role of pan-
Africanism, especially the role of women in African empowerment processes:
Pan-African Women’s Empowerment and Liberation Organization (PAWLO-Germany) e. V. Benzstraße 4, 14482 Potsdam, Postfach 601054,14410 Potsdam Telephone: 0331-50595880, mobile: 0176-25742654 Email: [email protected] Internet: www.pawlo-germany.org
No one may be disadvantaged because of his or her disability (see article 3)
Freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and freedom of the press (see articles 5 and
8)
The guarantee of property and inheritance law (see article 14)
Other important constitutional rights are listed in the German constitution.
In addition, the constitution characterizes and enshrines the principles under which the political
system of the Federal Republic of Germany operates (federal state, democracy, rule of law, social
state).
The constitutional court is the highest court and the “keeper of the constitution”. In addition to the
constitution as the basis of our legal system, there are many other laws. Citizens are entitled to
assert their rights before various federal and state courts – depending on the subject matter and
the claim – i.e. citizens may request the enforcement of their various different statutory claims.
In the Federal Republic of Germany the relationship between the State and churches and
religious communities is one of partnership; as a general rule, however, the State aims to maintain
religious neutrality and represent ideological diversity. The State can therefore be thought of as an
“impartial mediator” between different ideologies – a mediator that is always bound by the
provisions of the constitution.
Under the constitution, Germany has a federal structure.
This means that the “Federal Republic of Germany” is a federal State made up of 16 individual
states (Länder) each of which, in turn, has their own sovereign power – i.e. authority to take
political action, constitution, government/ parliament and administration.
Die 16 German states (including Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen as “city-states”) are:
Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse,
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia, Rhineland-
Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein and Thuringia.
The individual German states (Länder) participate in the legislative process through an institution
called the “Bundesrat” (federal council), which is the “parliament of the individual states’
governments”. The elected state governments of the Länder appoint the federal council members.
The interplay of the overall federal State (Bund) and the individual states (Länder) is regulated by
law.
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This tiered structure of responsibilities (principles of federalism, subsidiarity) and the separation
of powers (legislative, executive, judiciary) is intended to prevent a concentration of power within
the system. In addition to the responsibilities of the federal government, the affairs of the community
are thereby regulated in regional, local as well as flexible policy-making, which is close to the
citizens. The political will of the citizens and their democratic participation are, after all, key.
The citizens themselves are able to get involved for the common good by joining parties and other
organizations where people with common interests and goals come together: clubs, federations,
churches, associations and communities of various kinds. These deal with topics and
responsibilities in the fields of sports, culture, religion, social matters and policy etc.
Democracy lives by such voluntary and mostly unpaid citizens’ contributions.
For further information about the state structure, legal system and how the Federal Republic of
Germany perceives itself, please see the following links:
Constitution online: http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gg/ Federal Ministry of the Interior: http://www.bmi.bund.de or the Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (federal agency for political education): http://www.bpb.de