Advice and Support
Since 1992, SOLWODI has been running a return and reintegration project specifically for women. It is aimed at single women and single mothers in emergency situations and difficult life circumstances. The project facilitates a dignified return and supports a fresh start economically and socially.
In cooperation with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the program offers continuous and individually tailored counseling and support for women in Germany and in the destination countries. The program’s coordination and counseling center, based in Mainz, operates throughout Germany.
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Eligibility Criteria
Are single and/or single parents
Have experienced various forms of violence and exploitation and/or are affected by other issues (health limitations, low educational attainment, etc.)
Are destitute and in need
Come from so-called developing countries (see DAC list) and Central or Eastern European countries
Have been residing in Germany for at least one year
SOLWODI decides on program admission directly and independently following an individual review of each case. Exceptions to the admission criteria are possible in cases of hardship.
Financial Support Programs
Grants for travel and freight costs
Orientation/Transitional Assistance: For the first few months after returning, women can receive financial support to ensure their financial security while they reorient themselves
Education and training: Financial support may be granted for a limited period to help women obtain professional or academic qualifications (e.g., in the IT sector or the tourism industry, etc.). This includes, among other things, course fees, teaching materials, and monthly living allowances. Both initial training and refresher courses are eligible for funding. In special cases, school diplomas may also be supported.
Training subsidy: To facilitate (re)integration into the labor market in the home country, internships or jobs may be subsidized for a period of up to one year.
Support for income-generating activities: Returnees who wish to become self-employed, e.g., as hairdressers, cosmetologists, seamstresses, merchants, in the restaurant industry, or in agriculture, may receive individually assessed grants.
Temporary subsidies for rent: Upon presentation of a lease agreement, rent subsidies may be granted for a limited period.
Temporary subsidies for school and childcare costs
The amount of each grant is determined on a case-by-case basis, flexibly and in accordance with the specific circumstances, and is provided in addition to any other funding programs (IOM, ERRIN, etc.) to avoid duplicate funding.
Examples of funded projects in various countries of origin:
Pastry chef, Dagestan
Seamstress, Uganda
Grocery store, Ghana
Hair Salon, Kenya
Goose farming, Chechnya
Consultation Process
Referrals are typically made through migration counseling centers, return counseling centers, women’s shelters, government agencies, police stations, fellow countrymen, specialized counseling centers, information portals operated by GIZ and IOM/BAMF, Focus Scouts, and through the individuals’ own research.
If there is potential interest, an initial (non-binding) briefing on the program is provided. If interest continues, a confidential individual consultation is conducted by staff members of the Coordination Office. This includes:
Analysis of the specific problem situation
Planning of departure and reintegration
Analysis of future prospects with the goal of social and economic reintegration
If necessary, referral to a reintegration preparation program
Identification of financial support options
In addition, contact is established or research is conducted to find a suitable NGO for cooperation. Ideally, initial contact between the returnee and the NGO takes place before departure. In the destination country, in consultation with SOLWODI, the partner organization is responsible, among other things, for counseling the woman, disbursing and managing project funds, and monitoring and supervising the respective support measure. SOLWODI maintains ongoing and direct contact with the individual returnees and the respective partner organizations.
Psychosocial counseling is a key component of the counseling and support services provided by SOLWODI. Implementing this work, particularly in the context of return and reintegration, presents challenges, uncertainties, and questions for counselors. SOLWODI has therefore developed a training manual for professionals in return counseling, as well as for those working in migration and integration counseling, asylum counseling, and women’s counseling centers and shelters. This manual provides an initial overview of the topic:
Contact
SOLWODI Return and Reintegration Project – Coordination Office
SOLWODI Deutschland e.V.
P.O. Box 3741
55027 Mainz
Direct consultations available in: German, English, French, Russian, Albanian, Spanish, Turkish. Interpreters are available for other languages as needed.
