World Refugee Day: Safe Spaces as a ray of hope for refugees in Eichstätt!

World Refugee Day: Safe Spaces as a ray of hope for refugees in Eichstätt!

On June 20th the world will beWorld Refugee Daycelebrated to draw attention to the challenges and living situation of millions of refugees. According to recent reports from hvmzm.de were over by the end of 2023117.3 million peopleon the run, an increase of 8.9 million compared to the previous year. These alarmingly high numbers include refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons in urgent need of international protection.

In many European countries, including Germany, a decline in the welcoming culture is noticeable. This is happening in a context that is characterized by a socio-political shift to the right. The data shows that in 2022 in Germany only244,132 asylum applicationswere made, a significantly lower value compared to the number of people fleeing around the world.

Focus on safe spaces

A central topic in the current discussion about refugees is the so-called“Safe Spaces”. These shelters offer people safety and security, especially after experiences of discrimination or exclusion. The concept of Safe Spaces will be presented as part of a multimedia exhibition onJune 28thopens, presented by students. This exhibition, by ku.de was initiated, focuses on the refugee and migration experiences of various people.

A special highlight of the exhibition is the award ceremonyShalom PrizeonJune 29thto the safe space project “Casa Social Cultural y Memoria” in Colombia. Founded in 2009, this project offers alternatives to violence in an environment characterized by gang and drug crime and is committed to empowering those affected.

Exhibition and personal stories

The students have developed various projects, including portraits, interviews and field reports with refugees from Afghanistan and Mexico. The exhibition will take place at two locations in Eichstätt: in the former Johanneskirche and in the “Pixel” shop. The four stations of the exhibition are:

• Kraft der Vielfalt: Migrationserfahrungen von sechs Menschen aus Mexiko.
• Eichstätt – Give Newcomers a Voice: Geflüchtete aus Afghanistan.
• un/sicher ~ 20 min: Audioführung über den Begriff Safe Space.
• Casa Social Cultural y Memoria: Das ausgezeichnete Safe-Space-Projekt aus Kolumbien.

In addition, a seminar entitled “Safe Spaces: Human Rights Empowerment in Eichstätt and Colombia” will be offered in the summer semester to further advance the discussion about the rights of refugees. The exhibition is intended to encourage reflection, dialogue and personal debate, supported by the Eichstätt District Youth Association, the Institute for Media Education JFF and the KU Shalom working group.

The global refugee situation

According to the data from fluechtlingsrat-bw.de, in 2023 there were over 68 million refugees living in their own country (internally displaced persons). Five countries from which the majority of refugees come are particularly affected: Afghanistan, Syria, Venezuela, Ukraine and Sudan. Worldwide, the proportion of refugee minors is worryingly high and was around 202340 percent.

Overall, the number of asylum applications rose in 20233.6 millionworldwide, with most applications submitted in the USA, Germany and Egypt. The continuous increase in the number of refugees and the challenges in the reception process require urgent action and an open society.

OnJune 30thA benefit concert will then take place in the Holzersaal, the proceeds of which will go to the award-winning project in Colombia. The challenges facing refugees continue to be significant, and the Safe Spaces initiative is an important part of the response to these issues.