Presented at: GSEF2016 Montreal

Organisation: Technologie-Netzwerk Berlin e.V. (SSE organization)

Date: September 7, 2016

Presenter: Ms. Heike Birkhoelzer (Director)

Contacts: h.birkhoelzer@technet-berlin.de

Summary:

Graefewirtschaft is a social enterprise creating jobs for immigrants and refugees in Berlin. Graefewirtschaft runs different businesses including catering for schools, kindergartens and daycare centres, a canteen and household services and operates a restaurant that supports a group of immigrants. Together these businesses employ a total of 50 people. Graefewirtschaft was founded in 2009 by long-term unemployed immigrants and Germans. Immigrants and asylum seekers are often denied access to the German labour market because of the difficulties of having the qualifications acquired abroad recognized or their unclear residence status. This is the gap where Graefewirtschaft comes in, empowering immigrants and refugees through secure jobs, to which they can contribute and develop their skills At the same time, the services created reflect the culturally diverse district while the different businesses developed are based on local needs in the neighbourhood and the skills of the immigrants.