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Stepping up in a crisis
Ingeus Germany – part of APM Group – started delivering a new program in May 2022 to help refugees fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
By the start of July, the Ingeus team has supported more than 1,000 people who arrived in Berlin after crossing Germany’s border with Poland seeking refuge from the violence.
The free service is aimed at helping people integrate in Germany as easily as possible with access to language, childcare and schools, and health services.
“The people that come here are disorientated and lost and feel unstable,” said Daria Lazarieva, a Jobcoach with Ingeus Germany who is part of the integration service.
The support includes advising refugees on their rights, what they have to do and what they cannot do to stay in the country.
The team works mainly with young women and children as most men stayed in the Ukraine.
And most of the women who arrive are caring for more than one child, including the children from neighbours or acquaintances whose parents were unable to make the journey to Germany.
Being good, doing good and helping people
One of the big challenges for the Ingeus Germany team is overcoming the language barrier as most refugees don’t speak German or English.
To help the team put together a welcome package to answer questions and get them started with access to language services, childcare and schools, and health services as quickly as possible.
They also provide help in finding suitable employment.
Some of Jobcoach Daria Bohoiko’s friends expressed their amazement at the program being delivered at no charge to the refugees:
“(People) wonder what’s behind it and behind it is just being good and doing good. Helping people.”
Jobcoach Zbigniew echoes this sentiment:
“When this opportunity was created by APM, we were more than happy to support it from an employee point, but also the clients are very thankful for it” he said.
“It’s about showing heart and helping spontaneously.”