Many refugees experience horrors and atrocities on their journey to a safer destination. It’s those people that the initiative IsraAid supports with its counseling program "Brückenbau" (building of bridges).

The German version of the Israeli initiative IsraAid was founded in 2015 at the height of the refugee crisis. "IsraAid helps people who have suffered horrible things in their home countries or during their journeys and supports them with settling and integration. At the same time, it also builds bridges between religions and cultures," Annette Widmann-Mauz, Commissioner for Integration of the German government, told the BILD newspaper on Friday.

Support for traumatized women

The project Brückenbau, which is honored with the 10,000 Euro prize award, specializes on traumatized refugee women and their empowerment. Arab-Israeli, Jewish-Israeli and German therapists work with refugee women, many of whom are victims of gender-based violence. The project also trains other personnel and volunteers to work with refugee women inside and outside of refugee camps. Brückenbau is implemented in ten initial reception centers in Berlin and Frankfurt.

"In Germany, despite the large number of specialists, there is still a need for trauma therapists with experiences in the Arab speaking region,“ the association states on their website. That’s why IsraAid works with Arab-speaking natives in their counselling.

Other projects of IsraAid include motivational integration measures with which IsraAid wants to encourage refugees in Germany to become socially involved and to support them in their own ideas and projects. Another support program is targeted at Yazidi refugees in Germany.

Chancellor Angela Merkel will hand over the award in a ceremony on Monday. Last year, the prize for integration was awarded to the city of Altena for its contribution towards the integration of immigrants into German society. The town took in 370 refugees - 100 more than it was supposed to receive.