Challenges for Volunteers 

Most of the newcomers first have problems with the language of the hosting country, so volunteer helpers need patience and perseverance in all communication processes. Moreover, sometimes the behaviour of the foreigners may surprise you or may appear strange and inadequate due to their contrasting cultural background. You should always keep in mind that cultural values and norms are relative and differing. Sensitive and patient communication skills can be a good way to overcome linguistic and cultural barriers.

Perhaps you are having a clear concept of how the newcomers should integrate themselves into the hosting society, but in many cases your expectations will not be met. This can be a source of frustration. Maybe you expect too much in too little time. You have to keep in mind that many of the asylum seekers suffer from severe stress and can be unable to cope with the requests they have to face. Some of them are still in shock, traumatised, full of grief over what they have lost and/or scared about their uncertain future perspectives.

It is essential not to rush anything. The newcomers need time to get to know you, to build up trust and to overcome fear and insecurity. Listening to what they want to tell you without asking too many interrogative questions is always a good start for a trusting relationship.

When working with refugees volunteers get in touch with a lot of severe distress, misery and pain. A high number of the newcomers have experienced dramatic and burdensome situations before and during their flight. It has been estimated that about one third of the refugees arriving in Europe suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. Trauma means a mental damage caused by a tragic, shattering, severely stressing experience, connected to emotions of threat, helplessness, horror and fear of death.

Traumata shatter the confidence in the individual invulnerability and change the identity. Traumatised individuals show versatile symptoms of mental and physical shock helpers should be aware of, e.g. severe sleeping disorders, nightmares, nervousness, irritability, tendency to aggressive behaviour, fear, grief, distrust, feelings of guilt and shame, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts.

Wars and civil wars, loss of family members and friends, violations of human rights, physical and mental illness, poverty, bad living conditions and the fear to get deported from the host country characterise the situation of many asylum seekers. Supporting them to a certain extent means to share their suffering – a task that can be a major challenge for the helpers. They have to find the balance between understanding the traumatised individuals and protecting their own mental health.

Communicating with traumatised individuals can be difficult: Volunteers have to accept initial  reserve and distrust of the newcomers without misunderstanding their attitude as a personal rejection. When the refugees are developing trust it is possible to build up reliable relationships; in these cases, however, the helpers have to anticipate that stressful, sad and dramatic issues will be raised.

While voluntary engagement on behalf of refugees in 2015 was praised by societies and media as an example of a new „Welcoming Culture“ in European countries, the public opinion has become notably more polarised ever since. Volunteering for refugees and asylum seekers has been evaluated more critically by some societal groups, and refugees as well as volunteers have to face negative attitudes which range from critical comments over hate speech in social media to insult or physical attacks.

The attacks are usually committed by right-wing extremists, but scepticism and a negative atmosphere towards refugees and their helpers can also be found in broader population sections who perceive a social justice deficit. The attackers hope to intimidate refugee volunteers and to put them in a climate of fear so that they no longer assist refugees. Many refugee volunteers report that the initial enthusiasm of their social surroundings changed during the last years and that they have to face negative and hostile reactions²³.