Raphaels-Werk
1. General activities of the organization:
Raphaels-Werk is a German Catholic relief agency founded in 1871 by the German Catholic Bishops to assist emigrants before, during and after their departure. It has independent legal status since its foundation. Today, Raphaels-Werk is an affiliate of the German Caritas Association.
Raphaels-Werk maintains its central office in Hamburg. A network of 23 counselling services throughout Germany each year assist thousands of migrants by providing reliable and up-to-date information on living and reception conditions in destination countries and individual help with paper work and assistance programs. With regard to refugee clients, the main areas of work are: voluntary return and third country resettlement counselling and assistance. In the last three decades Raphaels-Werk has assisted tens of thousands of refugees from Poland, Afghanistan, Iran, Romania, Ethiopia, Chile, Bosnia and Hercegovina and other countries in their individual resettlement or repatriation needs. Many thousands of them have resettled in the United States, Canada or Australia. Others, after a sometimes lengthy stay in Germany, have chosen voluntary repatriation.
Raphaels-Werk cooperates with voluntary agencies, international organisations and with government authorities. It is linked to domestic, and to foreign relief agencies through the Caritas network and the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC).
Raphaels-Werk’s counselling services on site are operated by local and diocesan Caritas organisations which strengthens its role in a large national network of refugee and migrant services. Its staff have a long-standing experience in counselling individual returnees since some have focussed on this field of work.
At the political level our work is recognised by the German federal authorities. Under the Federal Law for the Protection of Emigrants (“Gesetz zum Schutz der Auswanderer”) of 26 March 1975, Raphaels-Werk has been continuously nominated and authorized by the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs to provide information and assistance to potential emigrants from Germany, whether German citizens or foreigners residing in Germany.
2. ERSO member is funded by:
Raphaels-Werk e.V. receives funds from the German Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Federal Ministry of Family Affairs. Raphaels-Werk counselling services are basically funded by the Catholic dioceses and additional project funds.
3. Target group of the ERSO member (in the context of return and reintegration):
Migrants in general, recognized refugees, and failed asylum applicants who want to return to their home country or resettle in a third country.
4. Does the ERSO member offer pre-departure counseling?
The focus of Raphaels-Werk’s returnee services is on pre-departure counselling and assistance to individual clients, i.e. provision of up to date and reliable information (e.g. on housing, health care, education/schooling, employment, security issues, social services, etc.), relevant contacts in Germany and in the country of return as well as assistance with paper work, procedures, travel and reintegration preparations, etc..
In Germany, refugee matters are dealt with at the local (Laender) level. Unlike in other countries, each refugee arriving in Germany is assigned by the German authorities to a designated area of temporary residence, beyond which he or she does not enjoy freedom of movement. The structure of Raphaels-Werk reflects the decentralised situation of the refugee population and the governmental policies of the Laender thus, ensuring that each potential client is afforded access to its services. Generally, refugee clients are referred to Raphaels-Werk services on site by other migrant and refugee services.
5. What kind of reintegration assistance does the ERSO member offer to returnees?
Beside individual pre-departure counselling (see 4.), Raphaels-Werk offers assistance with:
- Travel and start-up assistance programs funded by the federal and German states governments;
- In cash or in kind assistance on an individual case by case base which may be funded by the ERF, governments, church funds, etc..
Immediate reintegration assistance on site after return is not provided by Raphaels-Werk itself.
6. Partners in the context of voluntary return and reintegration:
National level: National level:
Raphaels-Werk closely cooperates with other organisations and stakeholders in Germany working in this field: Caritas and other welfare organisations, lawyers, volunteers, church-based groups, government authorities, administrations and IOM in particular with regard to travel and return assistance programs.
EU level: EU level: Caritas and other welfare agencies, and ERSO project members.
Countries of origin: Countries of origin: Caritas organisations and Caritas project partners on site.
7. Top 5 of returnees by country of origin assisted by the ERSO member in 2008:
Top 5 counselling contacts by country of origin
- Iraq 451
- Turkey 212
- Vietnam 172
- Serbia 140
- Iran 137
Top 5 actual returns by country of origin
- Turkey 9
- Iraq 8
- Syria 7
- Vietnam 6
- Russian Federation 4
Total number of counselling contacts 2008
2507
Total number of returnees 2008
73 (tbc)
