Second Visit to Caritas Center at Fürstenfeldbruck

Today is the second to last day of the program. Our group visited the Caritas Center at Fürstenfeldbruck (Caritas Zentrum Fürstenfeldbruck). We introduced the immigration status and politics in the United States to social workers at the center. In the meantime, through communication with social workers at the center, we made comparisons between two countries on immigration policy. During our communication, I have a further understanding of Caritas and its relationship with the German government. 
First of all, Caritas is one of many charitable foundations in Germany. But only a few (two as we know of) are working with the government on helping refugee. That is because helping refugee requires a lot of resources and there are not many NGOs can afford it. Caritas is one of those that are big enough to assume the task. Caritas is certainly not part of the "resistance" against the government like many NGOs in the United States.
Secondly, the resources for Caritas Center come from different channels. Caritas church is the primary source. The government provides funding (e.g. pocket money for refugees in the camp). There are also private donations. Red Cross Germany also provides material support but it is controlled and distributed by staff from the red cross.
But resources are not the only qualification to work with the German government. According to one of the social workers, there was another NGO that worked with the government but it was disqualified because it initiated political activities against government policy. The relationship between Caritas and the government is more of cooperation in nature.
Thirdly, we also met some social workers from another NGO. The religious background of the other NGO is funded by a Protestant church. However, there are Protestants working in Caritas (Catholic Church) and there are Catholics working in the other NGO. It seems social workers' religious background is not directly related to the church behind the NGO they work for.
Fourthly, Caritas church has reduced funding for helping refugees recently. On the one hand, the number of refugees is going down; on the other hand, according to one of the social workers, there are different voices within the church about whether Caritas is still necessary for helping refugees.


 (the picture was taken at the Caritas Center at Freising)

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