Each year Switzerland welcomes thousands of refugees fleeing war. In 2017 alone, the country accepted about 14,000 refugees, mostly from Eritrea, Syria, and Afghanistan. The government helps refugees when they arrive in many ways, from providing language classes to offering financial assistance. Still, refugees find it difficult really to become a part of their new country. Volunteering allows you to help people who are in need with as little as an hour of your time! Beyond helping your community, volunteering can also help make someone else's day a little bit brighter.
I am in Geneva to research immigration policy, specifically the topic of refugees. Since starting my research, I have found that the many refugees here have created their own communities in the city. When new refugees arrive here in Switzerland, they are housed in foyers, which are like large apartment buildings. As a result, refugees easily bond with each other, quickly making new friends. However, they have a much harder time meeting and interacting with Swiss people! I have talked with a lot of different people that want to create more contact between the Swiss population and refugees to help improve the situation.
