Fremde werden Freunde

Fremde werden Freunde is a non-profit organization based in Vienna, Austria, working in the fields of intercultural dialogue, integration and social participation of refugees, asylum seekers and other marginalized groups. It was initiated in 2015, as the increasing numbers of refugees demanded for ad-hoc solutions and innovative approaches. The association is organized as a network and so far, more than 300 people have been active as volunteers. It has its office in Vienna and the team consists currently of 7 core staff members, most of them have migrant or refugee background themselves. The vision and the aim of the organization is the fostering of social inclusion of marginalized communities and to encourage people from various backgrounds to play an active role in society. The organization’s main objectives are: - Combating any form of social exclusion by involving marginalized groups, migrants and refugees into the organization’s activities and supporting them to develop new skills - Promoting interculturalism, solidarity and respect for diversity in society by bringing people from different groups and communities together - Carrying out research on refugee and migration related topics in order to gain a better understanding on their needs - Promoting people-to-people interactions on an intercultural level and emphasizing the notion of respectful togetherness in society in the long term - Above all, the organization strives to empower refugees and other vulnerable communities to actively participate in society, and thus enhance their visibility and social inclusion. - Creating networks amongst civil society organizations in order to create long-lasting synergies and jointly advocate for the intended goals