Society

Berlin Nightclubs Have Been Raising Charity Money for Helping Refugees

German clubs are fighting against racism by welcoming refugees with music, dance and money

May 30th, 2016
Jessica Sama, News from Berlin
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The Schwuz is one of the oldest gay nightclub in Berlin, which has been fighting discrimination since its opening in 1977.  On Sunday May 15th, it hosted the second edition of its "Refugees Welcome party", part of a broader initiative in the city's nightlife community to raise money for pro-refugee organizations.

The Schwuz, and over 130 other German clubs and artists, are collecting funds for three German pro-refugee associations and the organizers of these initiatives are hoping to make the donation-based charity a permanent feature of the city's nightclubs. The system aims to raise money by focusing on people on clubs' guest lists who do not have to pay an entrance fee. The association convinced nightclubs to pay at least one symbolic euro, or more, to be donated to nonprofit groups helping refugees.

On 10th May the IMF's report for refugees recommended Germany to implement further reform measures to integrate the current wave of asylum seekers into the labor market, to broaden opportunities for full-time employment of women, and to improve their life conditions, praising Germany's efforts to integrate refugees into its labor market.

This nightclub's initiative has so far raised over €40,000 for refugees since April, contributing to the costs that Germany is facing for welcoming Refugees. In fact, according to the broadcasting service Deutsche Welle, the country is spending around €12,500 to pay for housing, food, and German language classes

for each refugee, and Germany is providing asylum to the highest concentration of refugees in the European Union.

In the light of the success obtained and the great amount of money that the country needs for facing the current Refugee crisis, this initiative is going to continue, providing a great example of solidarity and cohesion.

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News from Berlin