The funds come from the state's integration fund and will secure the financing of important integration projects in Salzgitter in the coming year.
This will enable a variety of offers that make everyday life easier for people with a migration background and refugees and strengthen their participation in social life. These include German courses, discussion groups, job application training and opportunities to meet and socialize in an informal setting. The aim is to strengthen the sense of togetherness in the multicultural urban society and create a better sense of togetherness.
Astrid Paus, "I am very pleased that the successful integration work of the city of Salzgitter can be continued in the coming year with the support of the state funding. The funding contributes to good integration in the neighborhoods and thus enables the multicultural urban society to grow together better. If this is successful, they can also ensure the development of a sense of togetherness."
Frank Klingebiel emphasizes: "The resources from the Integration Fund have been urgently needed since 2017 to support us municipalities in the Herculean task of integration, but I also make no secret of the fact that this need for support is far from over and I and the municipal family would like the Integration Fund to continue. We have launched numerous effective projects together, projects that are successful, but which require a great deal of patience and are far from over. The need for support is still there.
In this respect, I and the Association of Cities and Towns of Lower Saxony, as the leading municipal association, will not tire of calling for federal and state funding to promote integration work beyond 2026. I would like to thank the state of Lower Saxony for its considerable financial support of 38 million euros over the last eight years."
The projects supported by the Integration Fund:
The area of school social work is supported with funding from the Integration Fund amounting to around 389,828.54 euros. 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 preventative work of the municipal public order service (KOD) of the city of Salzgitter is also supported with 608,978.00 euros.
The street work and mobile youth work services will be made permanent with funding of EUR 194,264.40. This will primarily be used to intensify relationship work with young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. The aim is to find access to young people who are not reached by other help and support services.
Diakonie im Braunschweiger Land gGmbH - Kreisstelle Salzgitter is also running a project with support from the Integration Fund. Around 130,000 euros have been approved for this. This will be used 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 around 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 in Salzgitter-Wolfenbüttel is also being funded with around 83,200 euros for a project to integrate refugees and immigrants in the Fredenberg district and in the Suthwiesenstraße neighborhood.
Around EUR 154,100 was approved for the "Kontorsarbeit, Wir sind Quartier" project. 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. In addition, language support for women with a migration background and children in daycare centers or schools is being funded with 56,332.80 euros.
Background:
The Lower Saxony Integration Fund provides funding for projects that support urban society in overcoming the diverse challenges posed by the influx of refugees. Since the fund was set up in 2017, the city of Salzgitter has consistently been one of the municipalities in Lower Saxony eligible to apply. As a result, many projects have been implemented in recent years and successful approaches have been further developed. Including this year's funding, the state of Lower Saxony has provided a total of over 38 million euros from the Integration Fund for the integration of refugees in the city of Salzgitter.
Funding from the state's integration fund ends with the current round of approvals.