http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/schweiz/standard/Eritreer-sind-Fluechtlinge-mit-Imageproblem/story/26376015
Eritreans are refugees with an image problem
In recent months, the reputation of Eritreans in Switzerland was getting worse. The rather receive social assistance than working, then the accusation. A search for its causes - and the reality.
The 28-year-old Yemane Yohannes lives with his son Matthias and his wife in Winterthur. Photo: Dominique Meienberg
From
Lynn Scheurer
One of them wears a t-shirt that says in red "Switzerland". And that's what this Thursday night in the meeting room of the Catholic campus ministry at the Zurich Hirschgraben: the Eritreans and Switzerland. The three women and twelve men are here because they want to help their Eritrean compatriots in integration. The bridge to the Swiss company beat. Every now and then one of them suppressed a yawn, some come straight from work. From the outside street noise can be heard despite the large windows little greeted as a trainer Ron Halbright the participants. Beside him are six nameplates, which will remain unused.
The concept of the course: to help themselves. The help is urgently needed because the integration of Eritreans in the canton of Zurich is "unsatisfactory". This was the conclusion asylum organization Zurich (ADF) when she interviewed 15 Eritreans and as many experts two years ago. The public has realized a long time little of the integration problem. The Eritreans were here on rare because they hardly commit crimes. Crime statistics Eritrea is prior to Somalia, but behind Italy, Kosovo, Algeria, Nigeria and 20 other nations. And, although for years more for no other country refugees come to Switzerland as from Eritrea, as last year featured nearly 7,000 people applied for asylum.
The inconspicuous existence of good 22,000 Eritreans changed last fall with a headline: "social madness in Hagenbuch ZH» headlined the "Blick". The story: A Zurich community must raise taxes because of Eritrean extended family, as four of the seven children living in institutions. Later it turned out that the council wanted higher taxes because he had three years earlier reduced by 10 percent. The Eritreans served as an excuse - but the anger that one family, the community will cost half a million francs per year, remained.
The Eritreans are annoyed about this story. After discussions about language exchange and possible locations for a cultural exchange occurs most Hirschgraben the case Hagenbuch discussed. "It was a smear campaign," says Yemane Yohannes. He is fluent in German and logs often say. Now the 28-year-old leaning slightly forward: "Journalists should inquire directly at the Eritreans, instead of just writing about it," he says. Nod and murmur in the room. "Through such products, there are even more prejudices."
The land of uniforms
The prejudices are not completely out of thin air. 2013 Of all Eritreans working in the canton of Zurich have only 20 percent worked. And, although there are no other large group of refugees so quickly to their new home would, according to the ADF report in the last 30 years can adjust the Eritreans. The vast majority of them are young, have life ahead of them. And they can expect to stay here. Nearly 60 percent are recognized either as refugees or "temporarily admitted". The majority of the remainder is under Dublin procedure to that country in which the refugee was before - mostly Italy.
The reason for the high uptake rate: The small country in East Africa is one of the most militarized nations of the world. There is a joke: God looks at the earth, and when he sees Eritrea, he supported. "Why is this country suddenly so green? I have it but made extra dry "Then he whispered to the angel Gabriel to:.." These are the uniforms »
Arsema Eyassu wore this green uniforms. A few days after the bridge builder course she is sitting in a café in Zurich, pushes the sleeve of her black blouse up and displays a long scar above the elbow: a reminder of the military service. Eyassu, 34 years old, petite, but determined. For eleven years she has been in Switzerland, at the weekend, she makes her first ski lessons. She says in fluent German and under a false name, she did not want to expose her daughter.
As Arsema Eyassu was drafted, she was 18 years old. From then on she no longer played in a telenovela with Eritrean, but fired grenades, marched, slept under the open sky. Five and a half years - instead of the planned 18 months. Eyassu was not allowed to return to her old life, and with her new she could resign difficult. Once you have the supervisor said, "You're not worth anything." When she had objected that she had been punished: they had to remain seated outside a night, tied his arms behind his back. Therefore, the scar on his elbow.
Eyassu fled. 4000 do it according to the UN every month. She sat on a pick-up truck that crossed the Sahara, a small stone in his mouth to quench your thirst. Then, on a crowded boat across the Mediterranean, which just off the coast had a leak. The refugees waving white T-shirts, Maltese soldiers they fished out of the water. For six months, sat Eyassu in a jail in Malta. When she brought her daughter to the world, soldiers stood in front of her hospital room, so they do not abhaute.
In professional circles, it is believed that people from Eritrea are more often affected than other refugees from mental health problems. The obligatory military service, the long run, the separation of the family, the uncertain situation in Switzerland. Arsema Eyassu is not the only one who suffers from her past, but she is one of the few who undergo therapy. Psychological treatment is taboo for many Eritreans.
Two years without German Course
The second hour of the evening has begun, and Ron Half Rights Assistant briefly assumes the role of an Eritrean who is frustrated by the German lessons. A situation that know most of those present by their peers. Halbright, a man with an American accent and patient charisma plays the counterpart and advises address the problems, ask questions, looking for small solutions. For "who does not speak German, can not find work."
Noah Solomon speaks up. The 32-year-old has a soft, friendly face and wearing a sparkling plug in the ear. After his arrival in Switzerland, he wanted to learn German, he says, but almost two years not been allowed. Later he told detail of this "worst time". He does not want that the statements appear under his real name.
Solomon came in 2007 after a relatively short flight to Switzerland - thanks to the support of his family, he had to fly to Europe from Sudan. It should then initially not happened. During the two years that he was waiting for his residence permit, Solomon was housed in transit shelters and later in a house in Monchaltorf. "There lived only Eritreans and Somalis." Again and again he had checked with the care organization, when he could learn German. He was not allowed.
In Switzerland, each municipality decides for themselves whether they offer German courses for asylum seekers or not. A practice that angered many Eritreans. The canton offers some courses there are enough places where not. A refugee who do not learn German, is indeed «back capable" as it is called in the jargon. However, among the Eritreans there are no returnees.
By the time he was resigned, says Noah Solomon. "I could not do anything, just wait." In order not to spend too much money, he was mostly stayed at home. In the church he went to and fro. Solomon is, like most Eritreans, Orthodox Christian. In a church service, he met an elderly Swiss know. From then on he helped her cakes to sell for a good cause. So he sometimes had to do something and learned a little German. When the B permit after nearly two years came, he immediately signed up for a course and only wanted one thing: work.
Unrealistic career aspirations
91 percent of those Eritreans who are capable of working in Switzerland and for less than six years, are on social security. This was written by the Federal Office for Migration . That's a lot, but not much more than other refugees: Turks 88.7 percent, 84 percent of Iranians, Syrians 86.6 percent. That so many Eritreans are on social security for several reasons. For one thing very many of them young children. The mothers are busy with their care and therefore can not manage to attend German courses or work. On the other hand, most Eritreans are in Switzerland only a few years. According to the report, ADF normalizes the social assistance rate of a new refugee group in the second decade after their arrival. You then adjusts itself to those of more established groups of foreigners, also because there is less "temporary admission" is with time. A state that is a hindrance in finding a job. Instructor Ron Halbright mentioned a point: the social assistance rate is not indicative of the working poor. People like Arsema Eyassu, the former soldier who is a single parent and not enough earned its 60 percent in a day nursery, to support herself and her 11-year-old daughter.
Eritreans have made the leap into the labor market once they are appreciated by their superiors often: high level of initiative, good appearance, conscientious, reliable. Some of them, however, according to experts also major problems in vocational integration. Ron Halbright results, mainly due to the foreign Swiss professional system back: "Many Eritreans have to learn that you need in the Switzerland training and diplomas," he says. But experts warn against that some Eritreans would develop unrealistic wishes. A fixed idea of what career they wish to pursue. As a result, there would be a demanding behavior, which makes it difficult to work with the integration consultants.
Noah Solomon, who was waiting for his first German course for two years, says he enjoyed working in Switzerland again as a teacher. As earlier in Eritrea. After receiving the B permit, he found work as an assistant cook in two different canteens. Almost three years he worked from Monday to Saturday. He took his wife to Switzerland. "I've done." He deserved, but it bothered him that he was less than the younger Swiss chef. And that he had to work at the hot pizza oven, although he did it get severe headaches. A few months ago he was terminated. Since then he had in his backpack always three, four copies of their CVs here, says Solomon. "So I can apply for it."
Social assistance for the apprentice
Towards the end of the evening brings Yemane Yohannes, the word Deft in flannel shirt, the opinion of Eritreans present to the point. "80 percent of us receive social assistance, but 100 percent want to work." After the course, some are still together and talk to each other Tigrinya. Yemane Yohannes told by himself, polite, under real names. He is not afraid to expose themselves. The motto of his Whatsapp profile:. "Only God Can Judge Me" Several years ago, Yohannes has criticized the Eritrean government on Swiss Television. That she is trying to collect money among the refugees. For those who need a passport for example, or want to send money to relatives in Eritrea. Practices which also damaged the reputation of Eritreans in Switzerland. Arsema Eyassu says she once at the Embassy of their old school diplomas required, then nearly paid 1,000 francs and never got anything. Since then, they have paid out of money. Solomon and Yohannes say they have never even begun.
Yemane Yohannes is very serious when he talks about his country. According Instructor Halbright he is a "pioneer". Not because he criticized the Eritrean regime publicly, but because he makes a lesson in Switzerland. It is an exception. Today Yohannes is in his second year at the Winterthur plumbing company Arbatherm. After work, he plays football with colleagues or take care of the Eritrean club he founded. Before he could begin his teaching, Yohannes had a four-month internship and a one-year pre-apprenticeship make. "That did not bother me," he says. "I wanted to get an education, integrate me well." His wife now lives in Switzerland, together they have a 17 month old son. Until Yohannes earned enough, the family is on welfare.
(Tages-Anzeiger)
(Created: 22/02/2015, 23:20 clock)
(Software translation)
Received on Mon Feb 23 2015 - 06:44:41 EST