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Visit of the Barka Team to Focus Ireland in Dublin

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This week, the Barka for Mutual Help Ireland team visited the headquarters of Focus Ireland in Dublin. During the meeting, we had the opportunity to present our work at PACT and 15 Eustace Street, sharing our experience in supporting people in vulnerable situations, including those facing homelessness and social exclusion.

We also learned more about Focus Ireland’s current projects and initiatives, which aim to prevent and address homelessness through housing, advocacy, and support services. The exchange was a valuable opportunity to deepen our cooperation, share good practices, and explore potential areas for future collaboration.

We would like to thank the Focus Ireland team for their warm welcome and inspiring discussion. Meetings like this strengthen partnerships and help us work more effectively for people who need support.

Study Visit to Barka NL: Learning from Successful Homelessness Support Initiatives

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Between 17th and 20th September 2024, Konrad and Julie from our new Barka Team in Berlin had the pleasure of meeting dedicated Barka employees in the Netherlands. The aim of the study visit was to learn about the work and experiences of scaling the Barka organization in the Netherlands.

Julie and Konrad explain:

“We were welcomed with open arms and immediately felt the strong Barka spirit among our colleagues. Despite meeting for the first time, there was an immediate sense of support and active interest in our activities in Berlin, both during and after the trip.

We left the Netherlands feeling inspired by the variety of Barka’s support projects for homeless Europeans. Barka NL has excellent collaboration with other organizations that do outreach work. Barka also provides counseling services and runs Community Centres. The NL Team operates an ambitious Training Flat project, helping homeless individuals reintegrate into employment. What impressed us most was their individualized approach to each person seeking help and the sheer volume of people they assist daily.”

Special thanks to the Barka Partner Organisations and the civil servants who met with Julie and Konrad, sharing their experiences and ideas on reducing homelessness in European cities.

The study visit was of great value to Barka Berlin e. V., giving us excellent prerequisites to launch our activities for migrants in precarious situations in Berlin.