These funds will be used to support various projects that promote the integration of refugees and immigrants.
Lord Mayor Frank Klingebiel emphasizes: "The topic of integration has long been of central importance in Salzgitter, and not just since Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, which violated international law. "Integration is a constantly growing and ongoing challenge that we can only overcome with the financial support of the state. I am very pleased that we can also use the funding from the integration fund to renovate the Fredenberg secondary school, an important construction project."
Salzgitter's administration has repeatedly applied for financial support for strategically important integration projects on behalf of the Lord Mayor and has once again been approved. Klingebiel's commitment and strategic planning have made a significant contribution to the city receiving considerable funding again this year. "This funding is a clear sign that our ongoing efforts are being recognized at state level. The integration fund of ten million euros per year, which I negotiated with our Minister President Stephan Weil in 2017 and which all municipalities affected in a similar way to Salzgitter can access, is proving to be sustainable and necessary support from the state of Lower Saxony."
At 3.94 million euros, the largest share of the funding will go to the Gymnasium am Fredenberg in Salzgitter-Lebenstedt. The renovation of "Tower 0" and the construction of a school canteen are to be completed there by the end of 2026. Mayor Klingebiel emphasizes the importance of supporting secondary schools: "The schools in Lebenstedt traditionally have a higher proportion of children with a migration background and therefore carry out valuable integration work. Gymnasium am Fredenberg faces particular challenges in everyday school life. Many children come to school without breakfast and have no opportunity to have lunch. Having its own canteen would enable the school to offer the children a regular daily routine and a safe lunch."
In addition to the refurbishment of the secondary school, other projects are also being funded. For example, the "Streetwork Expansion" project will receive 194,300 euros. This project aims to provide intensive relationship work with young people with a migration background and experience of flight. The aim is to gain access to young people who are not reached by other help and support services. "Kontorsarbeit, Wir sind Quartier" is being funded with 154,100 euros. In connection with the effects of the increased influx of refugees, local social work increasingly requires the use of resources and structures in the residential area. The aim is to create an inclusive district by informing, coordinating and networking. Residents thus become an active and important part of the implementation of ideas and suggestions.
Another project funded with 56,300 euros is "Gemeinsam im Quartier: Sprachförderung für Frauen mit Migrationshintergrund". As part of the project, language courses are to be offered for women with a migration background in order to facilitate their integration. The courses are offered on a low-threshold basis in residential areas and are mainly aimed at Muslim migrant women, who often have Turkish, Kurdish, Tunisian, Albanian, Serbian or Arabic as their mother tongue.
The area of school social work is also supported with funding from the Integration Fund amounting to around 424,100 euros. The municipal school social work at elementary school and the IGS provides a reliable and continuous support service for numerous families with a refugee background. The municipal public order service (KOD) of the city of Salzgitter is also being supported with 300,000 euros to strengthen preventative measures.
Diakonie im Braunschweiger Land gGmbH - Kreisstelle Salzgitter will receive 130,000 euros to continue integration services in the "Start.Punkt.Salzgitter" district meeting point in Lebenstedt and in the east and west housing estates in Salzgitter-Bad. The SOS Mothers' Center will receive 63,600 euros in funding for the implementation of low-threshold projects for the integration of people with a migration background. The AWO district association Salzgitter-Wolfenbüttel is being supported with 83,200 euros for a project to integrate refugees and immigrants in the Fredenberg district and in the Suthwiesenstraße neighborhood.
About the integration fund:
Since 2017, the Integration Fund of the state of Lower Saxony has been supporting projects that help urban society to overcome the diverse challenges posed by the influx of refugees. Since then, the city of Salzgitter has consistently been one of the municipalities in Lower Saxony eligible to apply. It has therefore been able to implement many projects and further develop successful approaches over the years. To date, a total of over 36 million euros has been made available from the integration fund for the integration of refugees in Salzgitter.
However, Mayor Klingebiel reiterates that financial support from the federal government and the state of Lower Saxony will continue to be necessary in the future. "We as municipalities must be able to act, because only we can ensure social peace in our local urban society. Further financial support or even an extension of this is therefore essential," he emphasized.