How our volunteers support people in need:

In which situations are we asked for help? How do the volunteers of the LIFE Initiative support people in need? The following cases give an insight into our work:


The friend of an Egyptian living in Germany without papers contacts us. His friend is very scared and wants to stay in Germany legally.

A volunteer from our team advises them on how to apply for asylum. The young man decides to go ahead with the process and successfully files an asylum application. He is now in Germany legally.


A Ukrainian woman with a child gets in touch with us. So far, she has not been able to find a permanent home and has already had to move across Germany several times. Because of the residence obligation, the job center refuses to pay out social benefits.

Our volunteer provides assistance in repealing the residence obligation. After all this time, the family can finally register at their new place of residence and receive benefits from the job center.


Amina* has lost her position as an apprentice due to prolonged illness. As a consequence, her visa for the purpose of vocational training was revoked and she is due to be deported. Her partner got in touch with us.

Our volunteer checks her documents and sends numerous letters to the foreigners office. Ultimately, Amina is granted a renewed residence permit for the duration of 6 months so that she can look for a new apprentice position.


A single mother of four children has contacted us. The family comes from Congo and lives in a shelter in Upper Bavaria. The deportation has been ordered.

A volunteer from our team takes over the case and finds a lawyer from Munich who advises the family. In the meantime, the family has found church asylum. The deportation was prevented.


An Afghan family contacts us. After a long search, they found an apartment in Berlin. The family is in despair because they haven’t received money from the job center for over three months.

Our volunteer helps with the paperwork and remains persistent until the administrator of the job center handles the case and the money is paid out. The family can now pay for their rent and living expenses again.


Ibrahim (name changed) studied medicine in Kyiv until he fled to Berlin. He asks us for help because he does not receive unemployment benefits and is urgently looking for an apartment.

Our volunteer discovers that the immigration office has not issued a correct residence permit. In the meantime, Ibrahim receives money from the job center. In addition, with our tips, he finds a room in a shared apartment after a long search.


A Somali woman contacts us in a panic. Her employer, a Berlin hospital, might fire her because her residence permit has expired. For weeks, she tried to get an appointment at the immigration office.

Our volunteer helps to provide a “Fictional Certificate” to the employer, which clarifies that she can continue to work. She has since received an appointment with the authorities and a permanent residence status.


Hussein (name changed) has fled from Afghanistan to Germany. He asks us for help because he is extremely afraid of the asylum hearing and of deportation.

Our volunteer can arrange asylum procedure counseling and accompaniment for his hearing. In the meantime, Hussein knows that he has good prospects of staying and has been able to reduce his fears.


Sebastián (name changed) is a musician and has had to pay significantly higher rent since he moved. He asks us for help because he can’t make ends meet financially.

Our volunteer finds out that Sebastian is entitled to a housing allowance. Since the application process has been completed, he receives a monthly payment that helps him cope with life.


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