Social engagement in Germany-part 3
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- Created on Wednesday, 16 March 2016 09:38
- Written by germany
ERASMUS + Meeting Denmark 05/04/2016 – 09/04/2016
GERMANY: Report of a Red Cross member
As a member of the Red Cross, I can tell you that one of the first things you learn there, are the seven fundamental principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which were determined by its founder Henry Dunant: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary service, Unity and Universality.
In terms of social inclusion I think that Impartiality is the most important one. It does certainly mean that dealing with patients or others, who require help, must be based on need, and may not depend on nationality, race, religious belief, class or political opinions. Furthermore it does also include that everyone is welcome to join the red cross/crescent. Neither skin colours, nor beliefs matter there! There is a campaign slogan in Germany which literally says: “Helping others looks good on anyone”. It does not only include medical help, but also helping refugees (especially in these days), helping older people, taking part in disaster reduction and teaching others, etc.
It is so much fun to be a member of such an organisation. Everyone is extremely friendly and particularly the feeling to be able to help others is one of the best I know!
By Benjamin Bräutigam
Social inclusion in Germany-part 2
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- Created on Thursday, 10 March 2016 15:38
- Written by germany
ERASMUS + Meeting Denmark 05/04/2016 – 09/04/2016
GERMANY: Concept “Löwenschule Alzey“
“Löwenschule” is a special school for mentally handicapped students from the age of 6 to 19. It is one of the biggest special schools in our area and it is famous for its huge range of services. The children get picked up at home and are brought to school in special school busses every morning that supports their parents a lot in life. “Löwenschule” offers every student an individual advancement for his/her best development. Not only does it contain a cafeteria and a teaching kitchen, but also a little gym, a swimming pool, a playground and much more. In their mostly practical classes, the kids learn how to manage daily life, for example how to cook easy meals in the school’s teaching kitchen. The school’s objective is to integrate most of the students in simple and elementary jobs next to “normal” workers.
They also join special projects like cooperative theatre plays with other schools like our Elisabeth-Langgässer-Gymnasium. There have already been many cooperation programs, in which I have participated myself. For example, a visit by some students from “Löwenschule” during our Christmas bazaar, guided by our students. Other activities together were going to the cathedral in Mainz or taking a tour in the “Löwenschule” to further our understanding of their school life. It is a nice experience you will not forget. In the encounters with students from the Löwenschule you learn that those handicapped kids are students like you and me.
By Karolin
Social inclusion in Germany-part 1
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- Created on Wednesday, 09 March 2016 13:15
- Written by germany
ERASMUS + Meeting Denmark 05/04/2016 – 09/04/2016
GERMANY: Social inclusion in form of assisted living
The following article serves to describe the social inclusion that derives from the assisted living that is offered by institutions such as the “Nieder-Ramstädter Diakonie”.
People with an either mental or physical handicap are often limited in their possibility to participate independently in the social life of their communities. Unfortunately, there are always people within a society that are narrow-mindedly excluding others from the community. Reasons for this phenomenon are prejudices and intolerance. But luckily, there are people and institutions that are fighting to prevent social exclusion and to support the inclusion of everybody. Their leading principle, precisely that everybody has the same rights, is the basis for the work of those institutions. One of those institutions, namely the “Nieder-Ramstädter Diakonie”, offers different programmes for elderly people, adolescents, as well as disabled people. It consists of several sites of which each has a different emphasis. This consequently leads to the fact that concerned people can experience individual help. One site of the “Nieder-Ramstädter Diakonie” is located in Wörrstadt.
The institution in Wörrstadt offers assisted living and individual help for mentally or physically handicapped people. Concerned people are supported by different programmes and can therefore successfully be integrated into society. Institutions like the “Nieder-Ramstädter Diakonie” concentrate on dissolving hospital structures by introducing normal dwelling forms. This means that the people can live in private flats which are incorporated in houses of the institution, but there are always assistants present in those buildings. It also implies that the assistants can be contacted any time. The “Nieder-Ramstädter Diakonie” in Wörrstadt consists of three such houses, which can be inhabited by a maximum of 36 people. The residents of the houses are assisted to gain more independence in their everyday lives, for instance by learning and repeatedly training aspects of housekeeping.
The majority of the dwellers are even able to work in the “Rheinhessen Werkstatt”, which is a working place for approximately 200 people with a mental or physical disability. Disabled people can gain job-related integration through the numerous options of the “Rheinhessen Werkstatt”, which is attached to the “Nieder-Ramstädter Diakonie”.
In their leisure time the residents of the houses can participate in different sport clubs or choose to join art groups. The people are encouraged to determine their lives themselves. The aim of the institution is to enable concerned people to lead a mostly independent life and to design their daily routine themselves. By choosing different activities out of the diverse spectre of offers of the institution, the programme can be adapted to individual favours and wishes. The support of integration therefore prevents social exclusion and enables the people to successfully participate in society. This social inclusion results in a strengthening of the society and thus contributes to an improvement of the whole community.
By Vivien Gruteser
Social Inclusion - Høyanger and HVGS
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- Created on Tuesday, 08 March 2016 07:17
- Written by norway
by: Jon Ivar Davenport, Tina Sleire Sandvik, Kristina Eraker Ødegård
Høyanger - Norway
Our town is built up by immigrants. 100 years ago there were only a few families living here. When Hydro came to Hoyanger the immigration started to flow. People came from all over Norway to work here. The industry that grew were international; through partnership, trade and workers. Because of this, maybe we have learnt to be more open to new people?
Lately many asylum seekers and refugees have been placed in Hoyanger. It has been important for the local community to include them. Both the politicians and the citizens wish to make a good community together. While they are here they attend the school and classrooms of HVGS to learn Norwegian. Our school and the school for the learners of Norwegian as a 2nd language, are trying to make meeting points for Norwegian students and the asylum seekers/ refugees. For example, on Wednesday’s we have an open school from 5 pm to 8 pm so the asylum seekers and refugees can be a part of the social community in Hoyanger. When the school arrange activity days, they include the asylum seekers/refugees.
We have many different sports to do here. We have teams that are a part of IL Hoyang like football, handball, basketball, floorball, karate, shooting and gymnastics. We have other sports you can do on your own as well like, swimming and skiing. Other than the sports we have, there is not much to do. Therefor it is difficult to include people who do not like sports. We have those who sit home and play video games all day. They are often unsocial with those around them. They do sometimes have gatherings to play together. At home they also skype with each other while they are playing their video games. We have a youth club for the students between 13-19 years old.
The people that are disabled or have specific challenges are sometimes placed in special schools. Instead of sending our handicapped students far away, we try adapt and arrange so they can attend at HVGS and be a part of normal lessons. For example a student with reduced vision can be a part of a normal class if the school arrange a possibility for the student to get the needed equipment. The school can also have an elevator for the people who can not use the stairs. Outside they make a transfer to the sidewalks so the people in wheelchairs can get on the sidewalks easily.
Here in Hoyanger we try to include all our new citizens. The asylum seekers/refugees can be a part of the activity days that the school arrange. If you are not interested in any sports you can go to the youth club. Many teenagers sit at home and play videogames together. People that are disabled or have specific challenges get to go on normal schools. This is how we have chosen to include everyone in our community.