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MORE INFORMATION:
BAMF bamf.de/EN
The website of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees publishes extensive information in English about the integration and care for migrants and refugees in Germany.
PEOPLE LIKE ME peoplelikeme.hr.de
Website shows up-to-date information about what is needed and where in the state of Hesse.
FLÜCHTLINGSHILFE fluechtlingshilfe-htk.de
Site includes a clickable map to all volunteer organizations in each of the Hochtaunus districts.
The school’s Refugee Task Force working to create new support initiatives
New refugee library resources for FIS
Frederik S. (right), Junior IB Student
and directing refugees to separate tents for medical screenings: Daniel guiding the men to their tent, and Annelie, who is fluent in Arabic, helping the women and children to theirs.
Susanne von Engelhardt, FIS parent and regular volunteer at a refugee help center, highlights that ”information is critical to help effectively at the point when so many people are coming.” She means
Educating students to instinctively lend a hand to those in need regardless of their differences is an integral part of the FIS mission
return home. But once at the center, they saw the dire need to help sort out what they described as ”unbelievable amounts of clothes” so they stayed on, returning the next day.
FIS Grade 11 student Frederik S. has also found an effective way to get involved. While visiting the refugee center in Kronberg with his mother, he came up with an idea. ”I like to help people and I love football,” he said. And so he proposed a football game every weekend. His suggestion became a reality, and for the past year, Frederik has been playing football and speaking German with refugees in his community for two hours every Sunday.
Many members of the FIS Community are currently extending a helping hand, and it is not surprising: FIS attracts people who care. Daniel Cowan went home at 04:00 that night, and was back at school at 08:00. “I forgot to make coffee that morning,” he confesses. Would he do it again? I asked Daniel. “Absolutely. Any time they call.”
Maria Monteiro, FIS Parent
to inspire social responsibility.
getting a realistic view of the situation of refugees in Germany, and being aware of what is needed most at a given time in one’s community. ”People who want to help should contact help centers in their community – not just go there and drop anything they want to give away, or make assumptions about refugees’ needs.”
The Goldberg family, whose son just graduated from FIS this past year, supports this view. In early September, they spent two days at the new registration center in Neu Isenburg sorting donations. Their original intention had been to drive there, donate basic hygiene supplies, and
October 2015 FIS World 19