Offenbach helps - support for refugees

Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, war has become a cruel reality. The "Offenbach hilft" platform was originally a contact point for volunteer work for refugees from crisis areas such as Syria, Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq in 2015 and 2016. Offenbach hilft has now been reactivated and offers information for committed volunteers and arriving refugees from Ukraine.

Offenbach hilft is at it again: Support for people from Ukraine

The City of Offenbach's Volunteering Department and the Volunteer Center are responsible for coordinating volunteer help. They are closely networked with organizations, charities, independent initiatives and associations.

Offenbach helps
Offenbach helps: Aid for Ukraine
Many citizens would now like to help the people from Ukraine. Here you can find contacts and, for refugees, information on the next steps.

History Offenbach helps in the years 2015 and 2016

In the fall and winter of 2015, hundreds of people arrived in Germany and Offenbach every day. They came as refugees from crisis areas such as Syria, Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq and needed help.

An initial reception center was therefore opened in Offenbach by the state of Hesse in October 2015. The voluntary commitment and enormous willingness to help were impressive in Offenbach, as in other cities and municipalities. The city reacted and set up the "Refugee Aid" Stabsstelle at the city administration, Department 1, and the Offenbach Volunteer Center. The initial task of the Stabsstelle was to coordinate the wide range of offers and assistance provided by Offenbach citizens, associations, initiatives and companies based in Offenbach in the area of voluntary refugee aid. The initial reception center was already closed by April 2016. The city therefore dissolved the Stabsstelle Ehrenamtliche Flüchtlingshilfe at the end of December 2016 - this was transferred to "Offenbach hilft - Zusammenleben in Offenbach", a project of the Volunteer Center. Volunteering opportunities and information on integration and living together were linked to a separate website within the city's website.

"Offenbach hilft" thus remained a competence center and important contact point for the topic of volunteering and integration. In the next step, the existing volunteer services are to be consolidated or modified according to the circumstances and also serve to support people of all origins. The aim of "Offenbach hilft" was to advise, support and qualify volunteers in their search for suitable places to work in the field of integration. At the same time, "Offenbach hilft" acted as an intermediary between the volunteers, initiatives, organizations and municipal offices.

The "Offenbach hilft" project came to an end in 2019 - many opportunities for volunteering, such as with the integration guides, the learning guides, the Tafel der Begegnung, the city walks or the Demokratielosten, are still current and integrated as projects in the Offenbach Volunteer Center.