Special Projects

Depending on the local situation at accommodation centres European Homecare offers a variety of social services such as

• “Leisure Time Activities” – our staff develops, plans and delivers a weekly schedule in which all kinds of leisure time activities are offered to all refugees at accommodation centres (indoor and outdoor). Certain activities are exclusively implemented for special interest groups based on the need of the refugee group. Activities include all different kinds of sport activities (soccer, handball, basketball, volleyball, chess, hiking, table tennis etc.), excursions, sewing, workshops on child care & hygiene, cultural adaption workshops, language classes (e.g. German).


• “Psychological Counselling” – primarily at initial reception centres European Homecare employs fully trained psychologists who help to stabilise traumatised refugees during their short stay at such centres until longterm treatment will be made available. Shortly after arriving at the initial reception centres almost all refugees suffer from stress, sleeplessness and culture shock. Our psychologists and other experts conduct group workshops/therapy sessions in painting, music and gymnastics.


• “Dublin Counselling” – asylum seekers, who entered the EU in another country or have already applied for asylum in a third EU member country, are considered as “Dublin Cases“. An EU treaty signed in Dublin (Ireland) regulates that an asylum seeker will get only one asylum procedure within the EU. Hence, such refugees will be sent back to the respective EU country for the continuation of the asylum procedure. The Dublin counsellors explain the “Dublin Treaty“ and its consequences to the individual refugee making sure the difference between a transfer to another EU country and deportation to the home country is clearly understood.


• “Social Care for Unaccompanied Minors“ – asylum seekers under age need our special protection especially when they are unaccompanied. For such projects European Homecare will advise the contracting authorities to dedicate separate housing and care facilities. Additional social workers, teachers, and psychologists are providing special services to this group. European Homecare will hold close contact with local youth welfare institutions and legal counsellors (not provided by European Homecare).


• “Assisted Voluntary Return Services“– refugees and asylum seekers can seek counselling on the possibility of returning home voluntarily. Counsellors are trained to give individual pieces of advice in regard with the refugee‘s personal circumstances, the general situation in the home country, his legal asylum case and other personal matters. The refugee‘s decision to return home is voluntarily, will be supported financially by the respective country in which the refugee currently lives. European Homecare‘s counsellors help the refugee to get travel documents and works closely with other organisations in the field of repatriation to facilitate a safe and successful reintegration in the home country.


• “Return Hotline“ – is a 0800 telephone hotline for migrants and refugees to give easy and anonymous access to information about returning home voluntarily.


• “Ombudsmen - Information Bureau“ – in Germany as well as in Austria European Homecare operates information services targeted at neighbours and communities living next to initial reception centres. Communities around initial reception centres, where refugees stay only for a very limited time before being transferred to longterm accommodation centres, are faced with a constant incoming and outgoing of people they cannot get acquainted with. Cultural differences and language problems of refugees widen the gap between the refugees and local people. The projects provide information to neighbours and the communities about the activities inside the reception centres and serve as an office for concerns and requests.


• “Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention“ – sometimes cultural habits in their home countries invites refugees to abuse drugs, especially alcohol. Only a few refugees have dependencies on “hard drugs“ (such as heroin) will be treated by doctors. Social workers with experience in dealing with alcohol abuse or addiction help refugees understand their situation, start simple therapy and provide alternatives (active involvement in activities).


• “Administration of Nationwide School Transport“ – on behalf of the Austrian Ministry of the Interior European Homecare administers the cost-free transportation from refugee centres to local schools. Parents or teachers fill in the application form (provided as a download from the web page) giving details about the home address and the distance to school. Local transportation companies (public or private) confirm the routes to be taken and provide cost details for approval by the staff of European Homecare.


• “Kindergarten“ – while parents are responsible for the care of their children in accommodation centres (just like any other parents), European Homecare offers a kindergarten in many centres where parents often have appointments with officers from asylum authorities. Trained staff with foreign language skills coordinate and implement special activities for children in separate rooms or buildings.


• “Social Services for Refugees at Airport Düsseldorf“ – every day a certain number of travellers get caught in the bureaucracy of entry permits, visas and other restrictions or complications. Authorities at the Airport Düsseldorf entrusted us with delivery of social services to individuals “lost in transit“.


• “Social program for inmates of detention centre Büren, Germany“ - for many years European Homecare has coordinated social activities for inmates of the detention centre in Büren where the authorities accommodate refugees to be deported to their home countries. The project adds unique indoor and outdoor social activities for the inmates to distract from the difficult circumstances. European Homecare‘s services are strictly on a non-profit basis.


• “Implementation of measurements to protect women“ – in accommodation centres with mixed population (single males and single women and single mothers with children) it is essential and crucial to implement measurements to protect single women and single mothers from male violence and abuse. Therefore European Homecare strengthens the already-in-place precautions, especially separate accommodation, in the centres with the introduction of “Female Contact Officers” and an appropriate representation of female security guards during day shifts.