On 9 May 2018, the volunteer portal of the Volkshochschul-Verband e.V. went online. The vhs volunteer portal offers volunteers involved in refugee aid opportunities for networking, contact and exchange. We are all the more pleased because the results of the needs analysis of the Learning Lab of the University of Duisburg-Essen, among others, were already reported at our symposium Deutsch für Geflüchtete von Anfang an (TU Dresden, September 2017).

"The vhs volunteer portal is a project of the German Adult Education Association and was developed together with the Learning Lab of the University of Duisburg-Essen. It is a project of the Alphadecade 2016-2026 and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research.

The aim of the project is to develop an online portal for volunteers who are involved in helping refugees. The aim is to provide them with the best possible support in their work with refugees. To this end, the portal bundles important information and support materials on all aspects of voluntary refugee assistance and would like to offer long-term opportunities for networking among volunteers as well as for qualification.

Based on the results of an extensive needs analysis at the beginning of the project, nine thematic worlds have emerged, which are gradually being made available on the portal. In texts and videos, experts provide basic knowledge and practical tips on topics such as German as a second language, intercultural learning, asylum law, causes of flight and consequences of flight. Furthermore, information is provided on the countries of origin of the refugees or on the organisation and structure of voluntary work. In addition, volunteer language facilitators can download free German learning materials in the language modules."

Source: Facebook