Address of welcome

Welcome to Saxony-Anhalt! You have reached a federal state reception center and you are at the beginning of the asylum procedure. Saxony-Anhalt is an open-minded federal state. We aim at receiving you as refugee at best and offering guidance and integration services at an early stage. Beyond that, many people provide assistance during their leisure time.

On the following pages we have compiled important information concerning the first phase of your residence in order to facilitate guidance in the reception center and to assisst you during the asylum procedure (as of 10/2016).

Employees as well as volunteers espouse with high commitment best possible and humane living conditions. Due to the huge number of daily arriving asy- lum seekers, processes might be delayed or temporarily faulty. Thank you for your understanding and patience.
Nevertheless, processes keep taking longer than expected. Try to keep patience in such cases. Adapt yourself to the fact that the whole integration process is time-consuming and might also include setbacks. Do not get discouraged.

In your LAE you can contribute to a successful cooperation of people of different nationalities and cultural backgrounds. This might not always be easy, however, experience has shown: Many problems can be solved with respect and mutual consideration. We hope that this info guide answers your important questions and introduces to you contact points, which will provide further guidance.

We wish you the very best for your path and future.

Democracy and Human Rights: Principles of our Coexistence

You are seeking protection as refugee in Germany. Our country guarantees asylum from political persecution and shelter from war and civil war.

This shelter is part of our democratic constitutional order. This order includes encompassing fundamental and human rights that constitute the foundation of our society. The rights of people in Germany are guaranteed in the German Constitution of 1949, in the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 and in the European Union’s Charta of Fundamental Rights of 2000. The rights of children are protected by the United Nations’ Convention on the Right of the Child of 1989.

Germany is a democratic republic. Head of state, parliament as well as government are elected democratically, the same is true for the parliaments and governments of the 16 Federal States and the self-governments of the cities and municipalities. All elections are conducted by secret ballot.
Every person has the right to express his or her opinion, to assemble and to demonstrate for his or her opinion. All persons have the right to form democratic parties, unions and other associations.
Many people in Germany commit themselves to cultural, social or sporting interests in associations or initiatives that take over many duties for the community.
All persons are equal before the law. Government and authorities are bound to the Constitution and to the laws. Those whose rights are infringed, may defend themselves by complaint or in court and are not to be disadvantaged. Those who try to bribe a civil servant have to face punishment.
Men and women have equal rights. That extends to the decision on one’s lifestyle, the right to labor and free choice of profession as well as disposition of one’s income. In Germany women pursue all careers, even leading positions.
Children have the right to non-violent parenting, to early childhood and formal education. Fathers and mothers are equal regarding their children’s education. Parents can have a determining influence in day care centers and at schools in terms of parental representations.
All persons have the right to respectful interaction. Use of physical violence is prohibited.
Every person has the right to freely practice his or her religion. Most people in Germany are Protestants or Catholics and most of the holidays and many customs in Germany originate in Christianity. German culture is moreover crucially shaped by Jews. Nowadays, also many Muslims are living in Germany. Besides, there is a range of other faith communities and many people without religious affiliation. No person shall be discriminated against because of his or her faith or ideology. Freedom of expression includes as well the right to criticize religions and religious communities.
No person shall be discriminated against because of his or her origin, skin color, sex, sexual orientation, age or disability. Homosexuals do not have to hide in Germany and may recognize their long-term relationship like marriages by the state.

These fundamental rights also constitute the basis for respectful and tolerant interaction.

The analysis of the German felonies at the time of National Socialism (1933 – 1945) is very important in Germany. Racism and anti-Semitism are socially proscribed. Denying the Holocaust is a crime.

Democracy thrives if people participate and commit themselves
to their interests. This possibility is basically open to refugees. Associations, in particular, are delighted if you show interest.

Many immigrants founded self-organizations that make a significant contribution to peaceful cooperation and solidarity in Germany.

Selected addresses and contact points

Residence

Migration Counseling Saxony-Anhalt (Migrationsberatung Sachsen-Anhalt)
Website: www.integriert-in-sachsen-anhalt.de

Residence Permit Counseling and Support of Self-organization
(Aufenthaltsrechtliche Beratung und Unterstützung in der Selbstorganisation)
Flüchtlingsrat Sachsen-Anhalt e. V. | Magdeburg
Webseite: www.fluechtlingsrat-lsa.de
Phone: +49 391 5371281

Procedure Information of Caritas for Asylum Applicants in Saxony-Anhalt, [Asylum Procedure Consultation Center] Halberstadt
(Verfahrensinformation der Caritas für Asylbewerber in Sachsen-Anhalt)
Webseite: www.caritas.de
Phone: +49 3941 609300

DRK Tracing Service for Separated Families due to conflict
(Suchdienst für vom Konflikt getrennte Familien des DRK)
German Red Cross – State Association Saxony-Anhalt
Website: www.sachsen-anhalt.drk.de
Phone: +49 391 6106890 (MD)

Voluntary Return (Freiwillige Rückkehr)
Competence Center Return. Consultation Point for Voluntary Return of Thrid Country Citizens
Website: www.magdeburgerstadtmission.de

Labor and Training

Network IQ – Recognition and Qualification Counseling
(Netzwerk IQ – Anerkennungs- und Qualifizierungsberatung)
Halle / Magdeburg
Website: www.sachsen-anhalt.netzwerk-iq.de
Phone: +49 345 686948-23/-15/-21 (HAL) / +49 391 40805-15/-10/-13 (MD)

Professional in Focus (Fachkraft im Fokus (FiF))
Welcome Service for Foreign Professionals in Labor
Website: www.fachkraft-im-fokus.de
Phone: 49 152 537 729 43 (HAL), +49 173 8498 196 (MD)

Job Bridge PLUS (Jobbrücke PLUS)
Integration of Asylum Applicants and Refugees in Labor and Training
Magdeburg
Website: www.jobbruecke-chance.de
Phone: +49 391 7279882

Health and Protection

Consultation and support for women

FemaleRefugeeHouse (FlüchtlingsFrauenHaus) Halle
Website: www.migration-paritaet-lsa.de/ffh
Phone: +49 345 5238115

Women against Violence (Frauen gegen Gewalt e.V.)
Website: www.frauen-gegen-gewalt.de
Phone: +49 30 322 99 500

Help-Line „Violence against Women“ (free of charge)
(Hilfetelefon „Gewalt gegen Frauen“ (kostenfrei))
Website: www.hilfetelefon.de
Phone: +49 8000 116016

Vera – Department of Trafficking in Women and Forced Marriage
(Vera – Fachstelle gegen Frauenhandel und Zwangsverheiratung)
Website: www.awo-sachsenanhalt.de
Phone: +49 391 4015371

Support in case of xenophobic assaults

Mobile Counseling for Victims of Right-wing Violence
(Mobile Beratung für Opfer rechter Gewalt)
Halle / Magdeburg / Salzwedel / Dessau-Roßlau
Website: www.mobile-opferberatung.de
Phone: +49 345 2267100 (HAL) / +49 391 6207752 (MD) /
+49 3901 306431 (SAW) / +49 340 6612395 (RSL)

Consultation on questions of sexual identity and health

Gay and Lesbian Association Saxony-Anhalt
(Lesben- und Schwulenverband Sachsen-Anhalt (LSVD))
Magdeburg
Website: www.sachsen-anhalt.lsvd.de
Phone: +49 391 5432569

AIDS-Support
AIDS-Hilfe (Halle / Sachsen-Anhalt Süd e. V., Sachsen-Anhalt Nord e. V.)
Halle / Magdeburg
Website: halle.aidshilfe.de / www.aidshilfesachsenanhaltnord.de
Phone: +49 345 5821271 (HAL) / +49 391 5357690 (MD)

Orientation and Social Integration

Networks und support for everyday life

Consulations Services and Networks for the Support of Refugees and Arrivals
Website: www.integriert-in-sachsen-anhalt.de

Welcome Initiatives Saxony-Anhalt
Website: www.integriert-in-sachsen-anhalt.de

Welcome Haunt of the Volunteer Agency
Website: www.freiwilligen-agentur.de

Regional Network of Migrant Organizations Saxony-Anhalt Halle
(LAMSA) e.V. Halle
Website: www.lamsa.de
Phone: +49 345 17164890

Migration Guides „Welcome to Halle“ and „Welcome to Magebdurg“
Website: www.willkommen-in-halle.de and
www.willkommen-in-magdeburg.de

Consulation and support in particular life situations

Consultation Center for Heraing Impaired Persons
(Beratungsstelle für Hörbehinderte e.V.)
Halberstadt / Magdeburg / Stendal
Phone: 03941 612545 (HBS), +49 391 6272916 (MD),
+49 3931 712736 (ST),

Association of Blind and Visually Handicapped Persons
(Blinden- und Sehbehinderten-Verband Sachsen-Anhalt e.V.)
Landesgeschäftsstelle Magdeburg
Website: www.bsv-sachsen-anhalt.de
Phone: +49 391 2896239

Support with language barriers

Translation/Interpretation for Immigrants in Saxny-Anhalt by Phone
(telefonische Sprachmittlung für Migrantinnen in Sachsen-Anhalt (SiSA))
Halle
Website: www.lamsa.de
Phone: +49 345 21389399

Federal State Association of Sign Language Translators (Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft für Gebärdendolmetscher (LAG) Sachsen-Anhalt e.V.)
Halle
Phone: +49 345 6890010
E-Mail: ldz.leps@gmx.de or lbst.traut@gmx.de