A decade has passed since the emphatic declaration, "We can do it!"
In the heart of East Germany, the city of Neubrandenburg has seen a remarkable transformation over the past decade, thanks to the influx of refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. This transformation, documented in the film now available on ARD Mediathek and MDR television, has revitalized neighbourhoods previously plagued by high vacancy rates in high-rise buildings and planned demolition work.
The film, titled "exactly," focuses on finding solutions to the challenges of refugee integration and making the statement "We can do this!" a reality for a larger number of refugees. It showcases examples of successful integration, both in daily life and on the job market.
One such example is the housing association Neuwoges, which has signed over 700 rental contracts with newcomers since 2015. This has not only stabilized the population but also enabled renovations, contributing to the overall revitalization of the city.
However, the path to work remains difficult for many refugees, despite political initiatives and committed projects. The Johanniter in Leipzig, for instance, wanted to train refugees as emergency medical technicians and caregivers, but bureaucracy and a lack of planning security led to the discontinuation of the program.
Integrating into the job market is just as crucial as finding a roof over one's head when settling in Germany. Measures to facilitate refugee integration into the labor market in Germany have included promoting regular migration channels, targeted qualification programs, and cooperation between federal, state, and local authorities. However, less than half of the approximately 6.5 million refugees have sustainable employment.
Improvements could focus on better regional allocation to avoid integration barriers, enhanced language and vocational training, increased mentoring and inclusion programs, and stronger support for recognition of foreign qualifications. These steps aim to sustainably increase employment success for more refugees.
Coexistence in these areas remains a balancing act due to language barriers, cultural differences, and different daily habits often leading to conflicts, such as with waste separation or during Ramadan. Despite these challenges, the film investigates the questions of how individual successes in refugee integration can be sustained for more people and what it takes for the statement "We can do this!" to become a reality for a larger number of refugees.
