No one leaves their homeland voluntarily.
We help newcomers settle in.
Gröbenzell Asylum and Integration Support Group
Human dignity is what drives us.
There are many different reasons why people leave their own country, even though it is their
home. Whether it is war, famine, intolerance toward other faiths, or a lack of
economic prospects – we are convinced that no one leaves their home voluntarily.
That is why we help, and human dignity is what drives us. We want to make it easier for refugees to
get started with a new life in Germany and in our community. Our stated goal as a volunteer group is to
actively integrate people in the medium term. Because only when “I am integrated am
I part of society.”
Are you a resident of Gröbenzell? Here you’ll find information about our
work, the Gröbenzell Way, and how you can support us. We’re always looking for
volunteers – whether on a long-term or short-term basis, for small or large tasks. You can
sponsor refugee families or help us with organizational tasks. If you’re interested in
meaningful volunteer work, please contact us.
Are you a refugee? On these pages, you will find key information about life in
Germany, available support services, and regional activities and organizations.
Sincerely, Eva Herde & the Gröbenzell Asylum Support Group team
News about our work
Student interns are creating a new website
May 5, 2026
Lenni Jersche & Paul Kaufmann from class 9d at
Gröbenzell High School have given the Asylum &
Integration Support Group the new website it has long needed!
Great job! The two of them built the site based on a
predefined concept as part of their
social internship. We say THANK YOU!
>> Read more
Student Sponsorship for Milana
May 10, 2026
We also received wonderful support from Lea
Lichtenberger! Lea, too, dedicated her
social internship at Gröbenzell High School
to refugee aid—and took on a student
mentorship for little Milana from Ukraine.
She’s helping Milana learn German to get her
ready for elementary school. A huge THANK YOU!
>> Read more
Advent crafts event draws a large crowd again
December 12, 2025
Our Advent craft workshop for refugee families
is very popular every year. The parents have time
for coffee and cookies, and the children enjoy
the various craft activities. The fact that
people from different countries contribute to the buffet
turns the Advent craft workshop into a small
intercultural afternoon.
>> Read more
Appointments for Refugees
March 25, 2024
German Course for Beginners at the Adult Education Center
>Click here to register
April 6, 2024
Easter Crafts at the Library
>Click here to register
April 6, 2024
School Registration
>Click here to register
We need your help!
Meaningful engagement instead of spending hours on Instagram 🙂
Volunteer Opportunities for Adults
- Homework Mentoring – 1–2 times a week, help refugee
students with their schoolwork - Conversational German – by individual arrangement,
meet with a refugee who is already
learning German and spend time chatting - Assistance with government procedures
- Tenant training – You explain everything to refugees regarding
waste separation and other German customs – we
provide training beforehand - Representation & collaboration: Represent the Asylum &
Integration Support Group in public and collaborate
– e.g., clarify issues with the municipality, find
housing
Students Helping Students
- Homework Mentoring – 1–2 times a week
You’ll help refugee students—who are usually
younger than you—with their studies - Chatting Away – You’ll meet with
refugee peers your own age; talking together
helps them learn German, and besides,
most young people just want
to fit in - Field Trips & Leisure – if you have the chance, invite
refugee kids or teens to a
joint leisure activity – the volunteer group
will put you in touch with them
Donations
Why we rely on donations and how we use them:
The Asylum & Integration Support Group does not have its own legal status. We are a working group
affiliated with the Protestant Zachäus Church in Gröbenzell. However, the church only
manages our donation account. We receive no fixed funding for our work and
are 100% dependent on donations.
We use the funds to support various causes: urgent daily needs
that cannot be met through in-kind donations, school supplies,
German language courses not funded by the government, or venue rentals, for example,
for events. We allocate a small portion to promoting our work,
such as printing flyers.
20€
Help provide
school supplies for a
refugee elementary school student
50€
Help provide
school supplies for a
refugee elementary school student
100€
Help provide
school supplies for a
refugee elementary school student
500€
Help provide
school supplies for a
refugee elementary school student
Make a Donation
Recipient: Zachäuskirche Gröbenzell
Reference: Asylum & Integration Volunteer Group
IBAN: DE 45 7005 3070 000 393 08 31
BIC: BYLADEM1FFB (Sparkasse Fürstenfeldbruck)
Right in the thick of things instead of in a shipping container - An overview of the Gröbenzeller Weg
How our community aims to promote integration through small-scale housing
The basic idea is as simple as it is straightforward: instead of large-scale mass housing facilities, which may even be located in remote areas, our community is focusing on small-scale housing units located within residential areas (as of 2025). The concept has already proven successful, as it promotes significantly better integration. Currently, however, tensions are arising with the district administration and the numerical quotas for accepting refugees that Gröbenzell must meet—which are not always compatible with the concept of the Gröbenzeller Weg.
The Early Years (2014–2015)
- 2014: In response to the large influx of refugees, the municipal council develops the “Gröbenzeller Weg” approach. The core principle: small-scale housing instead of mass accommodations to promote better integration.
- 2015: The district administrator at the time (Mr. Karmasin) publicly criticizes the concept as a “dead end.” Mayor Martin Schäfer confidently stands his ground.
The intervening years (until 2022)
- The COVID-19 era: The issue of asylum temporarily takes a back seat.
- February 2022: With the outbreak of war in Ukraine, housing and integration once again become a major focus for citizens and volunteers.
A Shift in State Policy (2023)
- June 2023: A resolution by the state government calls for greater consolidation of housing facilities and the merging of small facilities in the future. This puts the “Gröbenzeller Weg” under massive political pressure.
Conflicts and Planning (2024)
- Kirchenstraße Planning: The district administration plans to use the ground and first floors for housing. Following protests, a compromise is reached: Only the first floor will be rented out; the ground floor will remain commercial space.
- September 2024 (Alpenstraße): The municipality offers the district administration alternative plots of land to prevent the planned container facility on Alpenstraße. The District Office rejects the offer, as contracts with the investor are already in place.
- September 12, 2024: The municipal council unanimously reaffirms the “Gröbenzeller Weg” plan and resolves not to permit any further occupancy on Alpenstraße.
Escalation and Legal Dispute (2025)
- June 2025: The building permit application for the container facility on Alpenstraße is submitted. The municipal council denies approval. The district administration overrides this denial with a legal “consent” (riding roughshod over the municipality).
November 2025: The municipal council unanimously decides to file a lawsuit against the building permit issued by the district administration.
Award (2025)
- December 5, 2025: Presentation of the Volunteer Award to Bettina Thöne and Hermann Dell in recognition of their long-standing commitment since 2014.