Wir Machen Das (We are Doing it) - Sara Hamilton
‘Wir machen das’ is a collective effort based out of Berlin, Germany, that seeks to strengthen the voices of German immigrants and those that view migration and diversity as integral parts of society. The initiative was founded in 2015 by a network of 100 women, both local and migrants, from the spheres of culture, science, journalism, and public life. Currently, the association employs a dozen people in and outside of Berlin and works with over 100 newcomers engaged in the cultural sector. The main goal of the initiative envisions an open, democratic, and pluralistic society. Those involved aim to improve career prospects, educational offers, and networking opportunities for migrant communities. Additionally, they foster individual resources and create opportunities for cultural exchange, bolstering the involvement of people from zones of war and conflict. Through their various projects, they are working to shape a future in Germany in which immigration and diversity are seen as an opportunity and asset rather than a societal burden.
The political and cultural conditions from which this initiative arose trace back to a nationalistic and xenophobic mentality present in Germany before and after World War II. During the rebuilding of infrastructure and economy after the war, immigrants, mainly Turkish, were welcomed into Germany to aid in their reconstruction. However, immigration during this time was seen as a temporary phenomenon, and migrants were expected to leave once Germany was stable. Later in 1990 during the reunification of west and east Germany, nationalist rhetoric increased yet again, creating an unwelcoming and fearful climate for migrants and non-white Germans.
Today, Germany is seen as one of the most attractive countries in Europe for immigration due to its strong economic and welfare system. In 2018, there were 10.9 million refugees and migrants accounting for 13% of the population (Foresti). The German government only began to actively deal with the long-term impacts of immigration towards the mid to late 90s. Since then, the country has shifted away from trying to stem immigration flows to recognizing its identity as a country of immigration and managing the impact of immigration on society. This shift occurred due to declining rates of immigration to Germany, and the government’s realization that policies must promote integration over assimilation into the dominant culture. Immigrants and their descendants represent about one-fifth of the entire population, which will only increase in the future, making integration an important policy concern that will have a strong impact on Germany’s future (Abali).
The attitude towards immigration and migrants in Germany is fairly neutral. Fifty-nine percent of Germans are concerned about the negative externalities of immigration but are also open to its potential economic benefits and supportive of the moral obligation to protect refugees. The growing concern about the cultural impact migration could have in the long term is one that the ‘wir machen das’ initiative actively addresses. Germany’s private sector is actively engaged in supporting the integration of refugees and other migrants into German society and the economy, often working in partnership to spearhead initiatives offering practical support and employment opportunities (Foresti).
While the government works to aid migrant and refugee communities through employment, ‘wir machen das’ places an emphasis on community integration, understanding, and tolerance. They use various projects in the fields of art and public relations to advocate for support, participation, and the recognition of diversity in the context of refugee movements and migration. Through their collaboration with large varieties of initiatives and project partners that share the same vision of an open, democratic, and pluralist society, the team behind ‘wir machen das’ works to strengthen the voices of migrants and refugees.
Examples of current projects include Weiter Schreiben (Writing On), a platform for literature and music where authors from conflict zones collaborate with German-speaking authors. Their texts are illustrated and published in both German and the original language on an online portal. (W)Ortwechseln ((Ex)changing Words & Places) is a literary letter project that connects renowned writers from the Arabic- and Farsi-speaking world with well-known authors in Germany. Authors that have fled to Germany, or still live in zones of war and conflict, share their impressions of their present, and the conditions their writing is subjected to, with German writers. A final example of a project the initiative has is Demokratie? Eine Frage der Verfassung! (Democracy? A Question of Constitution!). Through this, the team at ‘wir machen das’ plan a series of civic debates on German society, how Germans have been shaped by their history, and how they would like to shape their future state and constitution. The association also engages in seven other unique projects that work to foster information sharing and community building between migrant communities and native Germans (“WIR MACHEN DAS”).
For the team at ‘wir machen das,’ written publications and other projects are not only ways to build and strengthen the community, but also a form of political resistance. As mentioned previously, immigration policy and migrant integration into German society and culture are becoming more prevalent in the daily discourse of German people. ‘Wir machen das’ highlight the political aspects of immigration, as well as the cultural aspects of migrant life from discussions on health, love, mental health, and other topics of this nature. They work to show the diverse and full lives of immigrants and not only their oppression and struggle. By incorporating migrant communities’ cultures and stories with the broader German community, they help to facilitate their integration into society rather than simply assimilating. They help German people challenge their ideas of what it means to be “German,” encouraging self and societal reflection. Their work humanizes migrants and their experiences, casting aside static notions of migrant communities and helping to share their self-presentation. The overall goal of the initiative is to help German people step away from their ideas about migrants and immigration as a support for the economy, and create a counter-public image and understanding that represents their rich cultures and humanity.
Because the initiative was started by and still predominantly led by women, it calls into question what a gendered perspective reveals about how immigrants experience oppression, empowerment, and conscious-raising. A common theme in many women migrant-led movements and initiatives is the importance and strengthening of community. Women with multiple marginalized identities experience intersectional oppression and are the most exposed to the failings and misunderstandings of society. The initiative works to maximize the range of experiences and stories told within respective communities in an attempt to expose native Germans to different points of view. In my opinion, a gendered perspective on immigration is seen in bridging gaps in differences and raising the consciousness of other women in the diaspora.
Works Cited
Abali, Oya S. “German Public Opinion on Immigration and Integration.” Migrationpolicy.org, Migration Policy Institute, 12 Aug. 2015, www.migrationpolicy.org/research/german-public-opinion-immigration-and-integration.
Foresti, Marta, et al. “Public Narratives and Attitudes towards Refugees and Other Migrants: Germany Country Profile.” Odi.org, ODI, 1 Nov. 2019, odi.org/en/publications/public-narratives-and-attitudes-towards-refugees-and-other-migrants-germany-country-profile/.
“WIR MACHEN DAS – Home.” WIR MACHEN DAS, 12 Mar. 2021, wirmachendas.jetzt/en/.
Podcast
Abali, Oya S. “German Public Opinion on Immigration and Integration.” Migrationpolicy.org, Migration Policy Institute, 12 Aug. 2015, www.migrationpolicy.org/research/german-public-opinion-immigration-and-integration.
Florvil, Tiffany. 2020. “Black German Women’s Intellectual Activism and Transnational
Crossings.” Pp. 104-129. In Mobilizing Black Germany: Afro-German Women and the
Making of a Transnational Movement. Chicago: University of Illinois Press.
Gerlind, Marion. “May Ayim's Legacy in World Language Study.” Gerlindinstitute.org, Gerlind Institute for Cultural Studies, 2012, www.gerlindinstitute.org/resources/articles/Ayim_FLANC.pdf.
“WIR MACHEN DAS.” WIR MACHEN DAS, 12 Mar. 2021, wirmachendas.jetzt/en/.