The annual OlamAid lead conference took place in Berlin on October 30, 2025, with support from the Central Welfare Board of Jews in Germany (ZWST). Under the theme “Voices of Resilience,” the event focused on the resilience of particularly vulnerable communities in Europe.
The conference brought together specialists, researchers, community leaders, and political decision-makers to examine the realities and challenges faced by minorities, refugees, and people with a migration background. These included Yazidi families, Jewish communities facing threats, Roma communities, and refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. The opening remarks by Dr. Michal S. (OlamAid) and Günter J. (ZWST) emphasized the crucial role of collaboration in providing vulnerable groups with long-term psychosocial support and strength. The keynote speech was then given by Katarina Niewiedział, Commissioner for Participation, Integration, and Migration for the Berlin Senate.
In the panel discussion “Underserved Crises, Forgotten Groups,” experts, including Tamás B. from the Minority Rights Group, shared insights on achieving long-term resilience instead of merely short-term crisis intervention. An emotional highlight was the presentation by Dr. Sawsan K. (University of Haifa) on the little-noticed crisis of the Druze community in Suweida, Syria. Her plea, “I speak about the people in Suweida because I want others to listen – not just with their ears, but also with their hearts,” underscored the necessity of giving marginalized communities a voice. Particular attention was also given to Ukrainian Roma activist Anzhelika B. (Voice of Romni). In her impactful presentation, “Women’s Leadership in Times of Crisis,” she demonstrated how female leadership perspectives and collective action support over 100,000 people in Ukraine and bring about sustainable change.
The conference demonstrated that resilience emerges through connection, recognition, and visibility. The specialist day created spaces where marginalized voices were recognized as knowledge holders. Project Coordinator Felipe O’R. captured the core message: “At OlamAid, we believe that rebuilding hearts and communities after any crisis is just as important as rebuilding infrastructure.” The conference thus positions minorities not merely as groups “in need,” but as active shapers of their own future.
