German Chancellor Angela Merkel made a strong statement Monday urging her European Union colleagues to take in more migrants, many of whom are refugees fleeing war zones like Syria and Iraq. About 20,000 migrants entered Germany last weekend alone. It's not just Merkel and other government officials trying to make them feel welcome. Here are some of the ways German citizens are doing their part, as ABC News reports:
1. People are hosting refugees through an Airbnb-like portral: One Berlin couple started Refugees Welcome in November 2014 as a way of temporarily housing people in need. Interested Germans with beds to spare are matched with refugees based on accommodations available, languages spoken, and location. A sister website has cropped up in Austria.
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3. Entrepreneurs launched a smartphone app: Navigating paperwork is one tough part of asylum-seeking. Two companies partnered to build a smartphone app designed to help migrants figure out the registration process and secure health insurance.
4. A soccer club started a training program for kids: FC Bayern Munich's camp will provide children with free meals and German lessons. On top of that, they announced Thursday a $1.1 million donation to charities helping refugees.
"I am happy that Germany has become a country that many people outside of Germany now associate with hope," Merkel said Monday.
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