Best practice by ProPotsdam, Germany

The project is centered around the accommodation of refugees in Potsdam and their successful integration into society. The overarching goal is that refugees who arrive in Potsdam should not be accommodated in large community shelters, but in a more personal environment in their own flat, next door to German people, to support and enable a better integration process from the start.

The Staudenhof-building has community spaces where refugees can come together, practice their religion or native traditions. The project also integrates the existing community and invites people across the city.

The creation of “housing associations” in mature neighbourhoods is the first step towards a successful and seamless integration of refugees. Not only the concept itself but also the fact that all entities of the cooperation (artists, companies, associations, non-profit organizations, volunteers, neighbours, citizens, ect.) were part of the preparation-phase, the implementation and the transfer to additional locations, is unique to this project.

The rapid implementation of the project was only possible through dialogue-based, network-like cooperation and communication between all parties. It should serve as an example for projects that are equally based on administrative, political, business and civil-society processes complementing one another.

Find out more

To find out more on this initiative, please do not hesitate to contact the organisation’s Coordinator through the Members Only Zone.