Finding Your Way in or How I can find my way around Germany as an asylum seeker

This guideline has been written by the members of the “Freundeskreis Asyl Ostfildern e.V.” for the refugees in Ostfildern. Newcomers will find important tips and information on a number of different areas of life. These tips are intended to simplify daily life in Germany for the refugees. And it should help them avoid typical mistakes, which some of their predecessors had to learn the hard way.

This information has been compiled by: Members of the “Freundeskreis Asyl Ostfildern e.V.” © Freundeskreis Asyl Ostfildern e.V., April 2015 updated edition, December 2015 www.fkasyl-ostfildern.de Table of Contents 6.4. The “Tafel” Stores 6.5. Aldi and Lidl 6.6. Deliveries by Post 1. Shared Accommodation (GU) 1.1. House Rules 7. Bank Account 1.2. Night’s Rest 7.1. Bank Card and PIN 1.3. Fire Safety Regulations 7.2. Bank Statements 1.4. Kitchen 7.3. Cash Payments better than paying 1.5. Toilets with Bank Card 1.6. Dealings with Common Property 1.7. Sports Items 8. Documents 1.8. Pinboard 8.1. ID card 8.2. Protection against Abuse and Fraud 2. Employees of the GU 2.1. Social Workers 9. Justice/Court 2.2. Home Management 9.1. Police 2.3. Janitor 10. Working 3. Voluntary Helpers: Freundeskreis Asyl Ostfildern 11. Appointments 3.1. Language Teaching 3.2. Recreational Activities 12. Correspondence 3.3. Bicycles 3.4. Material Donations 13. Basic Law 3.5. Help with Everyday Tasks 13.1. Equality

4. Buses and Trains 4.1. Trips to (VVS) 4.2. Trips to 4.3. Baden-Württemberg Ticket 4.4. Travelling without a Valid Ticket

5. Health 5.1. Visits to the Doctor 5.2. Prescription Medication 5.3. OTC (over the counter) Medication

6. Consumption 6.1. Family Passport 6.2. Contracts and Special Offers 6.3. Mobile Phones 1. Shared Accommodation (GU) 1.4. Kitchen Please clean the kitchen immediately 1.1. House Rules after preparing your meals. Please When you move into the house, you do not leave the kitchen in an untidy will receive a copy of the house rules, state. Food that is left open will attract which provide rules regarding living insects, mice and rats. This house will together. These rules are necessary be your home for quite a while. The when many people live together in a other refugees would also like to have a relatively small area. The rules are in clean kitchen! the best interests of all people living in the house. Please acquaint yourself with 1.5. Toilets these rules and follow them. This will Please leave the toilets in a clean help minimise conflicts to the greatest condition. You will find a toilet brush possible degree. You do have liberties for cleaning in every toilet. Please also in Germany; however, you should not ensure that the brush is clean after it has do anything that is to the detriment of been used. If you require other cleaning anyone else living together with you. aids for the toilet, please ask the janitor Guests are not allowed to stay overnight to provide these. If everyone sticks to in the shared accommodation. the rules there will be no trouble.

1.2. Night’s Rest 1.6. Dealings with Common Property Night’s rest is to be observed between Objects that do not belong to you but 22:00 (10 pm) and 06:00 (6 am). which you may use are to be treated Everyone in the house is to be calm with particular care. Wilful damage or and quiet during this time, so that destruction – even to the outdoor areas the inhabitants can sleep. Loud of the house – is property damage and conversations or even loud music is not will be reported to the police. allowed during this time. If you would like to listen to music at night, please 1.7. Sports Items use headphones. Please also think of the There is a selection of sport equipment other people living with you: it is your in the houses, all of which may be house, too. used. There are people responsible for the different items. The names can be 1.3. Fire Safety Regulations found on the pinboard. These footballs, Under no circumstances may you frisbees, volleyballs, basketball, disable the smoke alarm or damage the badminton set, weights and table- fire extinguisher. These devices save tennis bats can be used by everyone. lives in the event of fire. They serve the Please return the item(s) to the person residents’ safety. you received it (them) from. Some inhabitants might have bought an own piece of sport equipment. In this case, of course, it may only be used with the 2.2. Head of the House (District permission of the owner. Administration) Mr Bernhard Mayr 1.8. Pinboard The current office hours are listed on Important information regarding, e.g., the office door or pinboard of each a great variety of different events (e.g. respective house. city festivals in Ostfildern, Stuttgart Tasks: or Esslingen, fairs) is found on the • Has the domiciliary right pinboard, but also on recreational • Controls compliance with the activities of the Freundeskreis Asyl prescribed fire safety regulations (voluntary offers). Please do not remove • Handing out of health insurance any current information. It is important certificates for all housemates. • Occupation/change of the rooms • Assistance with general questions, difficulties and problems 2. Responsibility for the GU • Purchasing of the tickets for hearing appointments at the Federal Agency for 2.1. Social Workers (AWO) Migration and Refugees (BAMF) Mr Peter Zillich • Payment of cash payments or issuing The current office hours are listed on cheques the office door or pinboard of each • Employment of refugees in the shared respective house. Tasks: accommodation on a one-euro job basis • Support with all questions and as cleaners or helpers for the janitor problems experienced in daily life • Support with questions regarding E-mail: [email protected] asylum and labour law, assistance when Office: ; telephone: searching for lawyers 07158/91-60-544 • Reading and translation of letters and documents 2.3. Janitor • Assistance with financial problems, Mr Bernd Egetmair, Mr Dudek e.g. when agreeing on instalment No fixed office hours, janitors drop by payments, when needed. • In the event of illness, assistance in Tasks: finding clinics or trauma therapists • Maintenance and monitoring of the Peter Zillich, mobile: 0170/99 56 245 facility (technology, repairs, etc.) Laura Haverkamp, mobile: 0151/19 33 • Preparation of the rooms for new 65 14 occupants Telephone: 07158/91-60-544 or • Checking that everything is clean 07158/91-60-545 • Head of the refugee helpers (1-euro job) E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] 3. Voluntary Helpers communicate with people and ask them how to get somewhere, or when one Freundeskreis Asyl Ostfildern can read information and letters and can There is a group of voluntary helpers write own letters and e-mails. We wish who call themselves Freundeskreis Asyl you every success! When you have been Ostfildern. They have joined forces recognised as a refugee, you are obliged to help you with many little issues in to visit an integration course. This takes daily life. Most of these people speak place at adult education facilities, e.g. English, some French. There are also in VHS Ostfildern, VHS Esslingen or a number of voluntary helpers who Metis/Esslingen. If you already have simply drop by to visit or for a talk. basic German skills from the in-house language courses, it will be much easier 3.1. Language Teaching for you to follow and understand the Learning German is an important lessons in the integration course. prerequisite for a good start in Germany. If you would like to work, 3.2. Recreational Activities you must be able to speak German, From time to time, activities or trips and read and write it as well. In the will be planned. The information house, a group of volunteers regularly (German and English) can be found on offer German lessons during the week. the pinboards in the homes. If you do Many of the volunteers are experienced not speak any of these two languages, teachers. Please participate in the please ask someone to translate the language lessons regularly. There are information. If you would like to different levels in the language courses. take part in one of the offers, please In addition, from time to time, intensive write your name (please first name courses are offered. Advanced learners and surname as well as your room can use the language software Rosetta number) on the notice. This simplifies Stone. The teaching hours can be found the planning – for instance how many on the pinboards in the houses. drivers and cars are needed. With some Please: When you are at class, please do offers the number of participants is not say that you understand something limited. Then the first persons to apply if, in fact, you don’t. Be honest! Ask will be able to go along. questions and tell your teacher when you have difficulties understanding 3.3. Bicycles something. Learning a new language The “Freundeskreis Asyl” receives together with others in a class room donated bicycles. These are not always can also be frustrating. But, when you in a roadworthy condition: many practise you will make it! Be patient bicycles need new lights or other spare with yourself and don’t give up! Not parts and must be repaired by helpers of only is German a useful language to the “Freundeskreis”. Therefore you pay learn; one also is happy when one can an own amount of 10 to 40 euros for a bicycle, depending on its state. Please Ostfildern, take the U7 in the direction treat your bicycle with care. You must marked “Ostfildern”. pay for your bicycle’s spare parts and Attention: The Brunnwiesenstraße repairs. It could happen that someone and Rainäckertraße houses are from the “Freundeskreis” assists you located between the stops “Ruit” and with smaller repairs. We recommend “Heumaden”. If you are starting from you buy a good bicycle lock – there are “Ruit”, you must pay for three zones. bicycle thieves. If you are starting from “Heumaden”, it is two zones. The inhabitants of the 3.4. Material Donations houses in Scharnhausen, Jahnstraße Many citizens from Ostfildern donate and Scharnhauser Park, Theodor- clothing and household appliances for Rothschildstraße (Kreuzbrunnen refugees. You can select clothing and stop), Nellingen, Wilhelmstraße and household appliances for your personal Daimlerstraße (final stop Ostfildern) needs. Please only take what you as well as the accommodation near the actually need. Trading donated items is Paracelsus hospital (Bus 131 and U7, not allowed. Heumaden stop) need a ticket for three zones. 3.5. Help with Everyday Tasks A single ticket for 2 zones costs 2.80 There are a number of volunteers euros, 3 zones cost 4 euros. You need who’ll accompany you to a number of two single tickets for a return trip. different appointments – to doctors, Therefore, the following is better: you to authorities, to the registration at the buy a ticket for 4 trips (4-er Karte). town hall or at language schools, etc. With a ticket for 4 trips for 2 zones, the All voluntary helpers have a family and cost is 10.60 euros, 3 zones cost 15.20 are frequently also working, but they euros. You can travel to Stuttgart and still take the time to help you. Please back twice with it. be punctual and wait at the agreed Important: The 4-trip ticket has four meeting point and do not forget the strips. One of these strips must be appointments, also as a sign of respect stamped prior to every trip. The toward the voluntary helpers. stamping machine is found in the underground station, directly by the entrances. Do not forget to have the 4. Buses and Trains ticket stamped, else your ticket will be valid and you will have to pay a fine (60 4.1. Trips to Stuttgart euros). Up to four persons can travel The City of Stuttgart and Stuttgart’s simultaneously with a 4-trip ticket but a main train station can be reached with strip must be stamped for every person. the U-Bahn number 7 (U7) called Attention: The tickets also apply for “Mönchsfeld” (which is the final the S-Bahn suburban train. There destination of this line). To return to the validation machines are located at the entrance to the train platforms 4.3. Baden-Württemberg Ticket (not in the train!) If you are a group The Baden-Württemberg ticket is valid (maximally five persons), then it makes from 09:00 a.m. to 03:00 a.m. of the sense to purchase a group day ticket. following day, (in each case 9 a.m., 3 A group day ticket for 2 zones costs a.m.). With it you can use the following 11.80 euros; 3 zones cost 16.40 euros trains throughout the whole of Baden- and 19.30 euros for the entire VVS Württemberg: IRE, RE, RB and S-Bahn railroad network. With this ticket up to as well as the local trains, and it applies five persons can travel as often as they in almost all public buses. The Baden- would like within the valid zones and Württemberg ticket is not valid for the for the duration of one day. If you have IC, EC and ICE trains.When you travel to make a number of different trips as with a Baden-Württemberg ticket by a single person during one day, then it IC, EC or ICE and a conductor who makes sense to buy a daily ticket. You could check you establishes this, you can use it as often as you want for an will have to pay a fine of 60 euros, in entire day and within the valid zones. addition to the additional charge for A day ticket (1 person) 2 zones costs having a valid ticket. Up to five persons 6.80 euros, 3 zones 10.80 euros and for can travel in the second class with the the complete VVS network 15 euros. Baden-Württemberg ticket. All tickets can be purchased at the vending machines at the stations. Please 4.4. Travelling without a valid Ticket ask someone to help you. If you are The buses and trains are frequently younger than 21 years (and have no controlled to ensure that everyone has a school subscription), it is worthwhile valid ticket. The conductors do not wear purchasing a combined pass ticket, uniforms. Travelling without a valid Junior ticket. This ticket costs 21.30 ticket costs 60 euros, which is the fine euros per month and applies throughout that has to be paid. the entire network. It is valid Mondays How it works: You have to present your to Fridays as of 14:00, at weekends ID card after which your data is noted (Saturdays and Sundays) as well as the and you will receive a receipt with a whole day on public holidays. payment request. With this you can continue your trip. Within two weeks 4.2. Trips to Esslingen you will then have to pay the fine. You There are buses to Esslingen. You need can do this either at the SSB office at a 2-zone ticket here(for the prices, Charlottenplatz for the underground please look above). You can also “U-Bahn” trains or at the main train purchase the tickets (also 4-trip tickets) station in Stuttgart or Esslingen for the at the bus driver (stamp in the bus). trains and “S-Bahn” trains. You can also Brunnwiesenstraße: line 131 pay the fine by making a bank transfer. Wilhemstraße: lines 119/129 The info for doing this is written on Jahnstraße: lines 1120/122 the penalty ticket (the receipt with the payment request). It might be possible For this you will receive a so-called to receive a pardon for the first time, if transfer form. You must present this to you request this in writing (this applies the social worker (currently Ms Sonja for the U-Bahn trains) but this is not the Sambeth-Weber). For this transfer to be rule. However, once your data has been paid for, the social worker must receive captured and you are caught without a the authorisation from the health service valid ticket for the third time, charges (District Administration). If you go to will be filed against you. In this case, a specialist with this transfer form yet not only do you risk having to pay without this authorisation, you will have a higher fine, but the court can also to pay the doctor’s invoice yourself. If convict you to serve a prison sentence. the district administration agrees to the Please do not travel by bus and train consultation by the specialist doctor, without a ticket. The risk is high for the social worker will make out an you: should charges be pressed, the appointment for you; and a voluntary consequences can be serious for you. helper of the “Freundeskreis Asyl” will Criminal proceedings have a negative accompany you there. effect on your asylum proceedings and your residence. You will only receive 5.2. Prescription Medication your residence permit and an ID card Medication prescribed by the doctor once the criminal proceedings and is only paid in part by the health the court case have been concluded. insurance. You will have to pay a Incidentally, this also applies for all certain amount for the medication criminal proceedings. This means yourself. As you, as an asylum seeker, that you only have a valid fictional only have little money, you can be certificate and no electronic ID card. relieved of this duty of having to pay This is not worth it! the additional amount. You will receive this letter from the social worker. You need to get this before you go to the 5. Health pharmacy, which is where you purchase the medication. This letter must be 5.1. Visits to the Doctor renewed every three months. This In the course of the asylum procedure exemption of the duty to pay does not you are insured in the event of acute ensue automatically for all different illnesses. The Home Management prescriptions, but rather it depends (Mr Mayr) issues the health insurance on the ingredients of the medication. certificates, only then can you visit the When you look at the prescription, family doctor. The social workers will you will see two little boxes at the top inform you of who the family doctors left-hand side: if there is a cross next in Ostfildern are. Where necessary, the to “Gebühren befreit” (no need to pay family doctors will transfer you to a the additional charge), you will not specialist for additional investigations. have to pay the additional amount with the exemption certificate – as a general ask someone for advice. The helpers of principle, these prescriptions are written the “Freundeskreises Asyl” would be in red ink. happy to assist you. If a seller makes you a special offer that is only valid for 5.3. Other Medicinal Products one day (mobile phone store), please There are also medications that can be particularly wary and inspect the be purchased without a prescription contract carefully. In the majority of from the doctor. Generally speaking, the cases, such special offers are bait these are simple pain killers (headache, advertising and the conditions are often common cold). Simply tell the worse than with normal offers. By pharmacist what you need. He can applying time pressure, the seller would recommend a medication that needs no like to prevent you from comparing the prescription. You will have to pay for prices in other stores. this yourself. Many sales staff members in pharmacies speak English. 6.3. Mobile Phones What was said at 6.2., applies in particular for mobile phones. Please 6. Consumption be very careful when someone places pressure on you to sign a contract 6.1. Family Passport immediately. In numerous cases you You can collect a so-called family will be offered an expensive mobile passport in the town hall (local city phone for free, but then the contract office). You receive a number of is often very expensive. Important: discounts with it: the contract cannot be terminated 50 per cent when swimming in the prematurely, it always applies for indoor swimming pool in Nellingen, 24 months! Ideally, do not sign any indoor swimming pool Kemnat, outdoor contract at all, but rather try to purchase swimming pool Denkendorf. a prepaid ticket and a contract-free 50 per cent in the adult education centre mobile phone. If you purchase a mobile “Volkshochschule” (VHS) , e.g. for telephone with a contract, you can only language courses and the music school. use the SIM card of the provider with 50 per cent with all municipal events. whom you have concluded the contract. In the city library, you will only pay an No other SIM card will function in annual fee of 8 euros. your mobile telephone. Please always compare the prices, it definitely is 6.2. Contracts / Special Offers worth your while! Take a close look at It is never a good idea to conclude a what is offered: telephone charges in contract straight away. Always take the all networks, only to certain providers, contract home with you, think about SMS, Internet, flat rate, etc. it, compare prices with those of other suppliers, stores or organisations and 6.4. The “Tafel” Stores Kronenstraße 30. To pick up your Asylum seeker, refugees and people parcel, you will need an ID card. The with little money can go shopping problem is that the residence tolerance inexpensively in the welfare and social identity card cannot be used for this establishments and at the “Tafel” Stores – and thus there is no possibility to in Nellingen, Hindenburgstraße 48. receive your postal goods! Therefore, You will need an ID card for this. Ask the only solution is to be at home when the social workers of the house you the delivery is made. Or to buy what are living in about this. The offer in you need in a store. the “Tafel” stores are very varied and limited, because only donated items (clothing, also for small children, toys) 7. Bank Account are sold, and food is also donated from stores and supermarkets. 7.1. Bank Card and PIN Business hours: Never give you bank card or your PIN Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday number to anyone! Only go to the 09:00 – 12:30 and 14:00 – 17:30 ATM of your bank if you would like to Wednesday 09:00 – 12:30 withdraw money. If you collect money from the ATMs of other banks than your 6.5. Aldi and Lidl own, you will have to pay a certain Aldi and Lidl stores have special per cent share of the amount that you offers for a number of useful items on are withdrawing, at least, however, a Mondays and Thursdays. You can find withdrawal fee of € 5.00. Sign the back these offers in the Internet, on the flyers of your bank card immediately after that are available in the stores and in the receipt. The signature must be identical display cases at the stores. The prices with that on your ID card because, for these offers are significantly cheaper when shopping, the signatures are often than in other stores, but they only compared. If a bank card is not signed, apply for one designated week. Please this can lead to abuse. pay attention to the date! If you are interested in such items, then buy them 7.2. Bank Statements immediately. Sometimes they are sold Collect your bank statements at least out within a few hours. once a month in the bank itself. The bank statements can be printed at the 6.6. Deliveries by Post ATMs directly – this does not cost If you order something on the Internet, anything. If you do not collect your you should be at home when the goods bank statements yourself, the bank will are delivered. If you are not at home, send them to you via post – at a charge the postman will take the items back of 1 euro. to the post office again and leave you Important: Store all your bank a note. The post office in Ruit is in statements and file them in a little file that you will receive from the bank. expensive for you: first of all the bank You will need these bank statements, will charge you a fee of €2.50 to €3.00 for instance for the Jobcenter. The for returning the invoice to the store Jobcenter would like to see the bank (return debit). What is more, the store statements of the last three months if will also charge you a cancellation and you register yourself there following processing fee in the amount of about your recognition as a refugee. If you no 10 euros. longer have these bank statements, you Tip: If the debit note cannot be cashed, will have to ask the bank for copies. you should act quickly. If you settle the However, the bank charges a fee for open amounts within a few days, no or every copy, at least €2.50 per copy. only minor reminder fees become due. Also important: Most banks charge at However, if you are still not able to pay least € 2.50 per month for bank charges. with the second attempt, it will become Thus you must pay attention to ensure really expensive for you: additional, that you always have at least €10.00 on much more expensive reminder fees your bank account! Pay your money now become due, and charges can also onto a bank account as long as you be filed for fraud. receive your asylum seeker money in cash, else your bank account statement will be in the red and you will have to 8. Documents pay interest. If you receive your money from the district administration or if 8.1. ID card it is transferred directly to your bank If you have a so-called “Aufenthal account, do not withdraw everything tsgestattung”(temporary residence – be sure to leave at least €10.00 per permit), you are obliged to live in the month on your bank account. community you have been allocated to (condition of fixed abode). If you 7.3. Cash Payment is better than have a temporary residence permit paying by Card and approval, you may only move When shopping, we recommend you within Baden-Württemberg in the pay by means of cash. If you pay with first three months; thereafter you can your bank card, you should always move throughout Germany. If you know whether you have enough money do not carry this ID card with you, on your bank card. If you do not know this can lead to problems in the event it, first check your bank balance at the of a police check – there is threat of ATM prior to going shopping (or print a fine. Once the Federal Office for out a bank statement). If you pay with Migration and Refugees in Karlsruhe the card and do not have enough money has recognised you as a refugee or on your bank account, the store will not politically prosecuted person, you will get the money from the bank for the receive a “Fiktionserklärungsausweis” item(s) you have bought. This will be (fictional recognition identification). This shall serve as an interim ID card. card lying around in public. Photos With it you can immediately assert can be take of it and this information your new rights. You can freely travel can be used (especially on the Internet) throughout Germany. The interim ID to purchase all kinds of things or card is valid for three months. In this to conclude contracts. Keep you period, you should have received your documents with you or lock them up residence permit and also a refugee safely. passport. If you do not receive your residence permit on time, your fictional recognition identification will have to 9. Justice/Court be extended. If you neglect a scheduled extension, a penalty fee will be due. If you commit a criminal act, such as The ID card is to be placed in a plastic drug consumption, drug dealing or covering to ensure that it is protected. theft, it is only a matter of time before Such a protection can be purchased for you will be arrested by the police. 50 cents in “Drogeriemarkt Müller”, Drug consumption and drug dealing are opposite the city house. The refugee illegal in Germany, and the Police must passport costs €59 (until the age of pursue these offences. If you have any 24 it costs €37.50) and for it, as is also prior convictions, you are risking your the case with the residence permit, a stay in Germany. If you have to go to biometric passport photo is needed. prison, you will also have this entered Depending on the quality and the in your criminal record. Employers can photographer, this photo costs between request your criminal record when they €7 and €15. As soon as you have are interested in employing you. Then received your refugee passport, the time you will no longer have a good chance has come to leave the house – beware! of getting a job. What is more, the This can also already happen earlier, police investigations will be stored in generally speaking after one to two the police register for a long time. months following recognition. Thus a new chapter starts in your life, with new 9.1. Police challenges. The police can be contacted 24 hours a day by dialling emergency number 110. 8.2. Protection against Abuse and Fraud The police do not just pursue offenders Never leave your ID card or your bank and solve crimes. They have the right card with another person. Those persons to carry out identity checks. You should who have access to your personal data therefore carry an identification paper and the details of your bank connection with you. If there is a road accident, can abuse these and – particularly on the police must be called and you must the Internet – can conclude contracts in wait for them. In Germany, the police your name or buy mobile telephones. are also a contact partner and helper. Never leave your ID card or your bank You can call the police to ask for help and advice if you are threatened or 11. Appointments the victim of an offence. You can also disclose confidential tips to reveal a If you have an appointment at one crime. If you witness a crime, don’t of the authorities, the Jobcenter or a hesitate to make a statement to the doctor, you must be punctual. This also police. This helps with crime detection applies for German language lessons and the prosecution of perpetrators. The and equally for personal appointments, police are obliged to uphold the law. for instance when you are invited to a meal. If you are not able to attend an appointment, you should cancel it and 10. Working arrange a new appointment. Doctors, especially the specialised doctors, You can apply for a working permit demand a fee of about 40 euros if you after you have been here for three do not cancel an appointment on time months. However, the chances of and simply do not appear. getting a job are very slim, because you probably do not speak German yet. Therefore, we recommend you 12. Correspondence make use of the opportunities offered by the municipality and sometimes In the course of time, you will receive also by clubs or associations in the many papers, forms and documents. form of the so-called one-euros jobs. You must keep this correspondence as These are simple jobs, such as clearing evidence for the next steps in future. up, mowing the lawn, cutting back Upon arrival, you will receive a file hedges, for which you do not need provided by Freundeskreis Asyl for any German skills. The money earned your correspondence and documents. here, (maximally 84 euros) can be kept Sort your papers according to topics and without any deductions and, what is in chronological order. more, when doing at least 40 hours of non-profit work, you will also get a travel ticket for the VVS. And, what is 13. Basic Law more, while doing this, you also learn a bit of German. The values and standards of the Contact persons: democratic legal system in Germany City of Ostfildern, Jörg Berrer, are set out in the Basic Law. Everyone telephone 0711/34-04-120 is required to follow these, even if they Social Workers Peter Zillich, weren’t often followed or were indeed mobile 0170/99-56-245 prohibited in their country of origin. In Germany, important principles include the separation of church and state, and equal rights for women and men. Partnerships can be chosen freely and homosexuality is recognised. There is freedom of expression, including criticism of religions.

13.1. Equality In Germany and in most European countries it is typical to greet one another by shaking hands and this is also how we say goodbye. This applies equally for men and women. Refusing to give your hand to someone is considered impolite. The law states that men and women have equal rights.

Emergency Call

Police: 110 Fire Department: 112 Emergency Doctor: 112

Emergency Service

Should you become seriously ill at night or during the weekend and urgently need a doctor, please contact the casualty department of the Paracelsus hospital in Ruit, Hedelfinger Straße 166, Telephone: 0711/44-880. In very urgent cases, if you can’t go to the hospital yourself, the ambulance can be called.

Ambulance: 19222

Social Workers: Peter Zillich: 0170/99-56-245 Laura Haverkamp: 0151/19-33-65-14