Portfolio of Solutions: Germany
Hello Europe in Action
HEY! EUROPE is an accelerator co-created by the Hello Europe and Ashoka Germany teams to support young migrants who contribute to their communities by solving social challenges. It focuses on enabling young changemakers to succeed by connecting them to a supportive network of peers and experts, while amplifying their stories to a broader audience.
Despite their expertise and strong motivation to contribute, young migrants are rarely invited to take part in addressing local challenges. This reinforces a dominant narrative that frames refugees as passive recipients rather than active contributors.
By identifying and supporting young migrant changemakers, the accelerator enables them to take on active roles within their communities, showcase their capabilities, and contribute to reshaping narratives, positioning young people on the move as drivers of change and integral actors in building more inclusive societies.
Ecosystem of Solutions
ACAF / WINKOMUN | Founded by Jean Claude Rodriguez (Ashoka Fellow) | Represented by Abdoulaye Fall
THE PROBLEM
Refugees and new migrants are often excluded from the financial structures that allow them to fully integrate into their new community.
THE SOLUTION
ACAF is a cooperative organisation working to fight financial and social exclusion by creating and supporting self-financing communities. It works with self-sustaining financial groups led by immigrants to promote networking and support basic financial needs. These communities are small groups in which members, usually between 10 and 30 people, participate through small contributions. ACAF’s proven methodology, Winkomun, is expanding throughout Spain and other European countries with low-income and migrant populations.
THE IMPACT
Winkomun has expanded to 7 European countries and created a free online platform that allows anyone around the world to access the methodology and set up a worldwide network of self-funded communities. The model is now in use in more than 15 countries across 4 continents, with more than 500 groups benefiting over 9,000 people directly and over 32,000 people indirectly.
MIGRATION VENTURES (UPWARDLY GLOBAL) | Founded by Jane Leu (Ashoka Fellow)
THE PROBLEM
In nearly every country with a large immigrant and refugee community, those who are college educated wind up unemployed or significantly underemployed upon arrival in a new country—doctors drive taxis, CEOs work in kitchens. There are few opportunities to work at the equivalent level and adapt professional skills to a new market. Skills are wasted, and the lack of opportunity makes adjustment, comfort, and success more difficult.
THE SOLUTION
Through Upwardly Global, Jane Leu is breaking down employment barriers and opening up professional career opportunities for skilled immigrants at leading companies, integrating them into the local workforce. Upwardly Global leverages employer partnerships that benefit from access to this breadth of talent. It provides customized training and support to give these new Europeans equal opportunities to find and secure skill-appropriate work and achieve their full economic potential.
THE IMPACT
Upwardly Global’s services now reach thousands of underserved immigrants and refugees across the United States, who are increasingly being recognised as a valued community asset at city and state level. The programme is active in five metropolitan areas. Forty-five percent of refugees arriving in the USA have college degrees, and Upwardly Global has placed 5,000+ people from 169 countries into skilled jobs, with an average income gain of $45,000. Through strategic partnerships, the organisation is now scaling its model to other countries with large refugee and migrant populations.
SINGA | Co-founded by Nathanael Molle (Ashoka Fellow) & Alexandra Alden (Singa Spain)
THE PROBLEM
Every year, thousands of people are forced to flee their homes, cities, friends and countries to seek refuge in other countries. After a long and often dangerous journey, these men and women apply for the protection of other states. Unfortunately, even though they had no choice but to leave their homeland, they are rarely welcomed in the countries where they settle. Incoming migrants are often perceived as a cost to local taxpayers and as a potential source of social tension or unrest.
THE SOLUTION
SINGA is a community of professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, dancers, singers, students—or, in short, a community of human beings. It brings together people who want to get to know and understand each other better and build a better society for themselves. The project develops a sense of community between migrants and local citizens, helping further integration and changing perspectives. The various SINGA programmes across Europe organise and facilitate opportunities to meet others within the SINGA community.
THE IMPACT
SINGA operates in France, Morocco, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Quebec and recently started in Barcelona. It has connected many people and helped change the perspective of populations that mainly view refugees as a problem.
KIRON HIGHER EDUCATION | Founded by Markus Kressler & Vincent Zimmer
THE PROBLEM
Not everyone has equal rights and access to education. Refugeues and other migrants often do not have access to education in their home countries and therefore struggle to find suitable jobs in their new places of residence.
THE SOLUTION
Kiron Campus is an online learning platform for underserved communities in the Middle East and refugees worldwide. The organisation empowers learners and equips them with the skills, tools and networks needed for future success. Kiron supports the fourth UN Sustainable Development Goal by enabling access to inclusive and quality education. By providing opportunities for education and language learning, Kiron offers students the chance to thrive in their home and/or host communities.
THE IMPACT
Kiron works with more than 150 partners worldwide and has over 6,000 students enrolled in courses. The platform has developed multiple digital tools for online learning and played a major role in advocating for the official recognition of online education.
INTERFAITH MEDIATION CENTRE | Founded by Imam Muhammad Ashafa & Pastor James Wuye (Ashoka Fellows)
THE PROBLEM
Religious differences sometimes result in extreme hate and violence. Due to limited dialogue between people of different beliefs, these problems are rarely overcome, and misunderstandings can easily develop into major conflicts.
THE SOLUTION
The Interfaith Mediation Centre works in peacebuilding with faith-based groups to reduce small and large-scale conflicts. The centre promotes community dialogue through mediation, negotiation, interfaith media dialogue and training from peace advocates across Nigeria and beyond. Dialogue is its main tool to promote trust and tolerance between different religious communities.
THE IMPACT
The centre has addressed many conflict-prone communities, resulting in peace agreements between conflicting groups. In total, it has carried out over 200 successful interventions on local and global levels and continues its mediation work in Nigeria, Sudan, Kenya and Chad.
REDI SCHOOL | Founded by Anne Kjaer Richert
THE PROBLEM
Many migrants arriving in Germany lack the qualifications required to be employed there. Despite this, they often have a strong desire to learn and contribute to society.
THE SOLUTION
ReDI School of Digital Integration is based on the idea of technology as a bridge between people, finding new solutions to old problems. Founded in February 2016, the school teaches technology as a way of connecting future digital leaders. Given the right opportunities, migrants can gain the skills needed to fill shortages in the IT sector. The school builds digital skills while also strengthening confidence and community.
THE IMPACT
ReDI currently has 316 active students and 384 alumni. According to a survey of 112 alumni, 57% are now in a job and a further 28% are enrolled in higher education.
SCHLAU-SCHULE | Founded by Michael Stenger (Ashoka Fellow)
THE PROBLEM
The right to asylum is a humanitarian cornerstone in Germany. Its implementation, however, often reflects the perception of asylum seekers and refugees as costly threats to society. Under current law and bureaucracy, unaccompanied underage asylum seekers over 16 are prevented from attending school, learning German and acquiring vocational skills.
THE SOLUTION
Schlau-Schule addresses the systematic discrimination faced by young asylum seekers by giving them access to education and supporting their integration into German society. Founded in Munich, it structures courses in line with state school standards and provides first-class support services, such as social-psychological aid and legal assistance.
THE IMPACT
Schlau-Schule students have an extraordinarily high success rate in the basic state school exam, enabling them to qualify for vocational studies and professional careers. By bringing these success stories to the attention of politicians, welfare organisations and the wider public, the initiative is reshaping perceptions of young asylum seekers. After success in Munich with 145 students, the model is expanding throughout Bavaria.
VIOLENCE PREVENTION NETWORK | Founded by Judy Korn (Ashoka Fellow)
THE PROBLEM
There is an increase in hate crime from right-wing extremists, but these are often left unaddressed. The conflicts stem from a limited understanding of migrants and their circumstances.
THE SOLUTION
The Violence Prevention Network supports counselling, training and outreach projects across Germany and internationally. It works through counselling centres, school projects, one-to-one outreach and online outreach for possible extremists. The network leads pan-European efforts on prevention of extremism and deradicalisation at the European Commission level.
THE IMPACT
In 2016, the network had 68 staff members who provided workshops, counselling and training courses to thousands of people. It advised 123 institutions on extremism-related topics and implemented adapted violence prevention models in Northern Ireland.
SOCIAL BEE | Founded by Zarah Bruhn
THE PROBLEM
Around 500,000 refugees are currently entering the job market in Germany. After fleeing violence and arriving in a new country, refugees face visa and document issues and the fear of deportation, which prevents companies from hiring them for permanent positions. Yet they bring resilience, perspective and skills that are valuable to any workforce.
THE SOLUTION
Social Bee is Germany’s first integration service provider. It bridges the gap between refugees and companies through a temporary employment model that supports integration into the labour market and society. Social Bee handles bureaucratic hurdles for companies and provides employees with qualifications, integration programmes, language development and socio-pedagogical support.
THE IMPACT
Founded in Munich, Social Bee is a start-up with 50 employees under contract and more than a dozen already placed in permanent positions. It aims to place 100 employees in permanent jobs by the end of the year and 1,000 over the next three years.
UNIVERSITY OF THE PEOPLE | Founded by Shai Reshef (Ashoka Fellow)
THE PROBLEM
Refugees, migrants and other vulnerable groups face major barriers, but education can help their lives resume and improve.
THE SOLUTION
The University of the People is the world’s first non-profit, tuition-free, accredited online university dedicated to open access higher education. Using open-source technology and Open Educational Resources, it offers associate and bachelor’s degree programmes in Business Administration and Computer Science. It has also created a scholarship programme for refugees and asylum seekers arriving in Europe.
THE IMPACT
The university has enrolled students from 170 countries and is supported by over 4,000 volunteers worldwide. It has partnered with Yale ISP Law School, New York University, Microsoft and Hewlett-Packard, and is currently creating a scholarship programme for 500 refugees.
RIGHT TO PLAY | Founded by Jonathan Koss
THE PROBLEM
Refugee youth, like their parents, often struggle with integration. Limited interaction with locals of the same age can lead to disengagement and difficulty building a sense of belonging.
THE SOLUTION
Right to Play supports the social, emotional, cognitive and physical development of children. Its interventions enhance education, improve health practices and build peaceful communities. Through games and sport-based learning, it fosters integration and engagement while teaching critical life skills.
THE IMPACT
Right to Play works with children in 20 countries, mainly in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Through more than 16,000 trained coaches and teachers, it supports playful learning for over one million children and youth.
ETHNOMEDIZINISCHES ZENTRUM | Founded by Ramazan Salman
THE PROBLEM
Nearly 15 percent of the German population—approximately 12 million people—are immigrants or children of immigrants. There is a direct relationship between the integration of migrants and their health.
THE SOLUTION
The Ethnomedizinisches Zentrum, founded in Hannover in 1990, created MiMi – Migrants for Migrants, a nationwide network that bridges the gap between German healthcare and immigrant communities. Successfully integrated migrants help others overcome isolation, mistrust, cultural barriers and lack of information about their rights in the healthcare system.
THE IMPACT
The model has expanded to Germany’s 24 biggest cities and several states. It has trained over 1,000 mediators from 50 nations—almost 80 percent of them female—and directly reached approximately 60,000 migrants from 70 nationalities. The costs are covered by local governments and Germany’s second largest state health insurance company.
MORE THAN SHELTERS | Founded by Daniel Kerber (Ashoka Fellow)
THE PROBLEM
Many people fleeing conflict find themselves in unsanitary and often dangerous refugee camps. Temporary living solutions are frequently inadequate and unsustainable, even though people spend an average of twelve years in camps originally designed for much shorter stays.
THE SOLUTION
More Than Shelters works with displaced people to create sustainable solutions and dignified spaces through integrated humanitarian design. It transforms shelters into places of opportunity, allowing residents to shape their surroundings and plan the next phase of their lives. Its work spans planning, humanitarian innovation and product development.
THE IMPACT
More Than Shelters has worked with displaced communities in Jordan, Greece, Nepal and Germany. It has developed innovations such as the DOMO Shelter System and a solar lamp, and supported innovation incubators that promote the talents of one million participants in Jordan, the MENA region and Europe.
WELCOME IN | Founded by Mary Nally (Ashoka Fellow) & Liam Carey
THE PROBLEM
An increasing number of migrants arrive in new countries with little or no knowledge of the local language. Without language skills and a social fabric, integration becomes difficult.
THE SOLUTION
Fáilte Isteach (Welcome In) is a project initiated by the Irish volunteer organisation Third Age. It equips older local volunteers to support migrants through conversational English classes and practical introductions to local customs and culture. Volunteers and migrants meet regularly, creating a local support system.
THE IMPACT
Fáilte Isteach currently has 83 groups involving over 800 volunteer tutors meeting weekly with 2,700 migrant students across Ireland. After 10 years of implementation across cities, towns and rural areas, the model has expanded to the United States, England and Germany.
WELCOMING INTERNATIONAL | Founded by David Lubell (Ashoka Fellow) & Vanja Panti
THE PROBLEM
Recent migration has caused fear and unease among long-time residents in communities worldwide. These fears are often exploited by right-wing movements, creating anti-migrant sentiment and weakening community cohesion.
THE SOLUTION
Welcoming International helps local communities understand and respond to demographic change. It focuses on host community engagement, reducing anxiety and increasing empathy among long-term residents. The initiative supports communities to go beyond a newcomer-only approach and actively engage the native-born population in building inclusive environments.
THE IMPACT
Established in 2009 as Welcoming America, the initiative now works in over 160 cities and towns across the United States. It supports non-profits and local governments to transform communities into inclusive places where everyone can thrive. After success in the US, it is now scaling to Germany, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
IPSO | Founded by Inge Missmahl (Ashoka Fellow)
THE PROBLEM
People on the move often arrive in a new country after significant trauma. Lengthy asylum procedures and practical and cultural challenges in host countries can lead to re-traumatisation and stress.
THE SOLUTION
IPSO provides refugees with psychological and social counselling through a methodology that values individual context and cultural background. It also offers online video counselling and trains refugees to become peer counsellors, enabling recognition and support through shared language, culture and experience.
THE IMPACT
Originally developed in Afghanistan in 2008, IPSO currently supports up to 50,000 people per year there. It has since expanded to Haiti, Ukraine and Germany, where it provides psychological support to people affected by trauma.