Preventive Support for Integration Initiatives – pufii.de
According to the UNHCR more than 65 million people, or one person in 113, were displaced from their home countries in 2015 (source: UNHCR). Conflicts, persecution or natural disasters are just a few of the reasons for persons to flee their country. In Germany alone, about 441.900 applications for asylum were submitted to the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees in 2015. This represents an increase of 155% on the previous year.
The relevance of this figure is emphasized by the fact that many application processes are delayed due to the multitude of required registrations and applications. The increased need for additional accommodations for refugees presents a challenge to the federal states and communities. As a result, existing accommodations were enlarged and the total number of accommodations was extended. Despite all efforts there were overcrowded accommodations in 2015. However, not only overcrowding and housing are problems for the communities but also the refugee integration. The integration process is the next big challenge and should start as early as possible.
Communities are central to the success of integration and play a key role during the integration process. They face a special challenge and a specific responsibility. Displaced persons have to acquire a place in the host society and it is the interaction between the refugees and the receiving society that determines the direction and the ultimate outcome of the integration process. Successful integration depends on many factors, which also involves crime prevention work. Preventive and integrative actions are each particularly successful when both make it possible to react early in specific cases and at the same time following a long term and lasting orientation.
Throughout Germany there are large numbers of projects and initiatives for reducing prejudices and promoting social interaction. However, preventive initiatives promoting the integration process of refugees are not fully established. This is where the online portal for professionals “Preventive Support for Integration Initiatives - pufii.de” sees its mission: With the help of pufii.de communities and experts can choose and select from information, project descriptions, links to projects, initiatives and fundraising or legal texts. The portal aims to strengthen professional exchange and the cooperation between experts in the field of refugee work. The online portal for professionals “Preventive Support for Integration Initiatives - pufii.de” is a collaboration between the German Congress on Crime Prevention, the Crime Prevention Council of Lower Saxony and the German-European Forum for Urban Security (DEFUS) and was activated on 1st March 2016. Until now there are more than 800 thematic links and daily news on pufii.de. Furthermore the portal offers concentrated and focused information.
Pufii.de aims to support experts in the field of refugee work and communities facing the special challenge and the specific responsibility during the integration process of refugees. The weekly newsletter informs subscribers of current themes and topics on pufii.de in English and German. Here you will find all past issues of our newsletter. However, there is no English translation of the website pufii.de.
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