Background: Who are we?
Brückenwind is an association that has critically examined volunteering and support work since 2017. We began as a small group of white German Europeans with experience in international volunteering. Today, our team includes people with diverse backgrounds who have volunteered, were refugees themselves , or worked in solidarity structures in different contexts across Europe.
Much of our experience comes from supporting people on the move at EU’s external borders — including Greece, Serbia, and Sicily. Across these contexts, we saw recurring power dynamics such as Eurocentrism, racism, paternalism, and white saviorism.
▶What we do
Brückenwind provides critical education and reflection spaces for volunteers who want to engage responsibly in solidarity work with people on the move.
We explore topics such as:
- The impact of global inequalities and migration policies
- Dependency and sustainability in volunteering
- White saviorism, voluntourism, Racism, Eurocentrism and Paternalism
- Colonial legacies in humanitarian work
- Dignity, agency, and respectful cooperation
▶Why we do it
Support work with people on the move happens in highly unequal settings shaped by border violence and global injustice.
Without reflection, volunteer work can unintentionally:
- Reinforce stereotypes, racialized narratives, and paternalistic behavior
- Create dependency or undermine local actors
- Replace or overshadow local knowledge
- Center volunteer experience over community needs
▶Our approach
We work with continuous learning and critical reflection.
Our tools include:
- Case studies from border contexts
- Self-reflection exercises and discussions
- Accessible explanations of power structures
- Ethical and solidarity based engagement
- Participatory approach
▶Our goal
We aim to support forms of volunteering that are grounded in solidarity.
This means volunteering that:
- Centers the agency of people on the move
- Challenges power dynamics and colonial continuity
- Strengthens local structures and knowledge
- Acknowledges border violence, political situation and injustice set by oppressive systems
- Holds volunteers and people involved in support / humanitarian work accountable and responsible
