weact counselling centre against racism and discrimination planned in Augsburg and Nuremberg
In Bavaria, a new community-based counselling service for those affected by racism and discrimination will be available from autumn 2023. As part of the “weact: countering racism and helping to shape a discrimination-free society” project of the Federal Association of Networks of Migrant Organisations (NeMO), we, as ZAM e.V. and AGABY, are opening Bavaria-wide advice centres in Augsburg and Nuremberg.
Weact is currently training 21 community-based counsellors who are critical of racism.
The main aim of the NeMO project weact is to support those affected by low-threshold counselling services in dealing with their experiences of racism and to strengthen their ability to act through systemic support. ZAM e.V., AGABY, allies and cooperation partners will identify relevant structures in urban society and the region and work with them to develop sustainable strategies against racism, discrimination and marginalisation.
Team ZAM e.V. and AGABY at the start of the project
“Since their inception, our organisations have been a point of contact for people experiencing racism, particularly from migrant and post-migrant communities. We are delighted that we now have the opportunity to support those affected by additional forms of discrimination in full-time structures. Our experience in recent years of structural barriers in authorities and institutions, as well as everyday violence against, for example, queer refugees, people with a migrant heritage or BI PoC, shows that there is still a great need for action to protect these groups from discrimination and to enable them to participate fairly in society. Community-based counselling and empowerment of those affected is an important step in this direction”.
Merve from ZAM e.V. Augsburg: “We have a high proportion of migrants in Augsburg and our team is just as diverse and comes from different communities. As part of weact, we want to take action against discrimination and support people who are affected.
Fabienne from ZAM e.V. Augsburg: “What is special about our location in Augsburg is that we are a very cheerful, strong and diverse team. This is true in terms of the age range of the team members, but also in terms of the different characters and interests, as well as the different professional and academic qualities. We have a desire to weact against discrimination and in favour of community solidarity.”
Hamado from AGABY: “What is special for me is that this counselling service is provided by the community for the community, and that it is run by migrants.”
Migrant and BIPoC organisations as actors
Bundesverband Netzwerke von Migrant*innenorganisationen e. V. is a federation of 750 associations, brought together in 21 alliances and active in 10 federal states. Since January 2014, NeMO has been committed to the interests of the target groups and has established sustainable structures and instruments to ensure political development, participation policy and anti-racist expertise independent of individuals.
Association of Augsburg migrant (self-)organisations: The umbrella organisation ZAM e.V. was founded in 2020 from 12 Augsburg migrant associations at the time in order to promote the common interests of the member associations. The primary aim is to professionalise the work of the associations, strengthen structures and make the diversity of people living in Augsburg visible at city level. The number of member associations has currently doubled.
Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Ausländer-, Migranten- und Integrationsbeiräte Bayern: AGABY – the umbrella organisation of integration advisory boards in the Free State of Bavaria. They support and network the local advisory councils in their task of representing the interests of migrants in local politics. AGABY advises local authorities and state politicians on the processes for a participatory integration policy in order to achieve equal and non-discriminatory coexistence.
