heks

HEKS Regional Office of both Cantons of Basel supports the integration of socially disadvantaged people into society and assists refugees and migrants to seize their rights and obligations.
In order to reach these aims the regional office of both cantons of Basel implements various offers and projects.

Together with other aid agencies HEKS Regional Office of both Cantons of Basel administers a legal advice office.
The counselling enables asylum seekers a fair procedure and explains them their situation and their perspectives. Migrants get the chance to visit a training course enabling them to act as competent interpreters and mediators between two cultural groups. With the interpreter service we – by way of the language – are building a very specific bridge between migrants and specialised institutions in the health and social sectors or in the educative and the consulting field.

A project was created for Turkish refugee families. It takes the varied integration processes of children and parents into account. Apart from receiving competences in their mother language the main goal is to impart children and youths with a better understanding for cultural differences. This ought to result in better school performances and a faster integration. Family gardens are rented specifically for female refugees and in an accompanying project we place those at their disposal. People with an addiction or psychic disorders can make use of our accompanying housing project. Step by step the persons concerned learn to independently manage their everyday life. This prevents them from losing their apartments or even makes it possible for them to find new accommodation.

The regional office works closely with the protestant church, the Swiss refugee council and different aid agencies. Naturally, it is in close contact with regional authorities, the relevant cantonal and Swiss committees and private institutions.
The legal advice given is focussed on the needs of the marginalised. The aim: Paving a way back into society for them. The mentioned projects have been enrooted in both cantons of Basel for over twenty years. They have undergone constant adjustments and are therefore tried and tested. Nevertheless, the work has in no way become a routine job. It still is an urgent necessity.