City of Wolfsburg
Integration Department
Secretariat

City Hall B, Room B 227
Porschestraße 49
38440 Wolfsburg

Telephone: 05361 28-2672

E-mail: sekretariat.integrationsreferat@stadt.wolfsburg.de

The Integration Department is headed by Irina Reschke

The integration concept "Living Diversity" 2021 forms the basis for the agile management of Wolfsburg's integration work and invites us to continue the dialog on the goals and effects of integration and to develop it further together with all those involved.

Following a comprehensive review of the existing integration measures in Wolfsburg, the Integration Department developed further challenges and goals.

These are reflected in four fields of action.

The integration concept contains 48 pages of valuable information on the topic of immigration and integration as well as goals and challenges for further integration work, but also interesting information on topics such as intercultural competence and the importance of participation. It is the declared aim of Wolfsburg city council and politicians to pursue and implement the goals that have been set.

• Agile management concept for integration work in Wolfsburg

Many people know the building on the Laagberg as the former Freizeitheim West. Since 2019, it has been under the administration of the integration department. As a socio-cultural meeting place, it is to be available for diverse and intercultural uses for Wolfsburger*innen, especially from the local council area Mitte-West. The Flüchtlingshilfe Wolfsburg e.V. with its counselors, the AWO with its project "Arbeit nach Maß" and the Diakonie with its pregnancy counseling are already a permanent fixture in Das WEST. In addition, some international associations and groups meet, such as African drumming, dancing, singing and pottery.

In the building there are various rooms that can be rented by clubs and associations, whether for one-time or regular use.

• Flyer DAS WEST 2023

The City of Wolfsburg supports associations, groups and individuals who are active in Wolfsburg, make a contribution to our diverse society and pursue goals that contribute to good understanding within society.

The guideline gives an overview of the framework conditions for funding and with the help of the application you can request funds from the integration department for your measure/project.

• Guideline for the promotion of integration measures
• Online application for the granting of funding for the implementation of an integration measure in connection with the Wolfsburg integration concept "Living Diversity

• Guideline for the promotion of international cultural associations
• Online application for funding according to the grant guideline of international cultural associations and measures for a cosmopolitan society

Integration management with a monitoring system has been set up to further develop Wolfsburg's integration concept "Living diversity". The integration department has the following tasks

• Creating transparency about integration activities in Wolfsburg within and outside the city administration
• Data-based control and coordination
• Optimization of internal processes
• Communication and interface management
• Publication of integration reports
• Further development of migration and integration work

The integration report is intended to show the implementation processes of integration projects on the basis of indicators and to formulate recommendations for action and further challenges in integration work.

The City of Wolfsburg's first integration report from 2019 is intended as an initial inventory of the implementation of a selection of measures within the city.

A new integration report is currently being prepared.

The "Intercultural Municipality of Wolfsburg" action concept is intended to help adapt services and offerings to a social environment that is changing as a result of immigration. The Intercultural City Administration Wolfsburg is perceived as a joint task by the business units and departments.

The "Intercultural Municipality of Wolfsburg" sees itself as an organizational and personnel development process. Intercultural training for the acquisition or expansion of intercultural competencies as well as workshops for the development of measures are offered to all employees. In doing so, the city administration pursues the goal of increasing the employment of employees with a migrant background.

As part of the resettlement program, a contingent of particularly vulnerable refugees has been permanently admitted to Germany every year since 2012. Since 2015, at least 500 places have been made available each year for refugees who have undergone a registration and recognition procedure with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and received a residence permit from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees in accordance with Section 23 of the Residence Act (AufenthG). The residence permit on humanitarian grounds entitles the holder to pursue gainful employment from the outset. Resettlement refugees are entitled to social benefits in accordance with SGB II or SGB XII, appropriate accommodation and participation in integration courses.

Contact:

Strengthening cultural identities - promoting intercultural dialog - Together with international cultural associations and other social actors, the Integration Department regularly creates various opportunities for social encounters and open exchange between all nationalities living in Wolfsburg. This includes, for example, the annual World Refugee Day.

Do you have any suggestions or would you like to get involved? If you are interested, please contact the Integration Department by e-mail: sekretariat.integrationsreferat@stadt.wolfsburg.de

Operative integration work focuses on the topic of "Refugees and immigration". The work is aimed directly at refugees and new immigrants.

Operative integration work has interfaces with areas of the city administration, the job center, migration advice centres, migrant aid organizations, volunteer supporters and other stakeholders.
Specific projects and tasks that promote integration are supported in their implementation, coordinated with network offices and in some cases carried out by the department itself.

Publications are produced and published on topics of need: "Living without worries" brochure

We organize network meetings, information events and discussion opportunities for refugees/new immigrants on the one hand and for the advice centres for immigrants and the voluntary support groups on the other. The networking work is characterized by an appreciative and solution-oriented attitude.

Topics and networks:

• Socio-educational work in refugee accommodation centers
• Health concept for refugees
• Network for women, refugees and immigration
• Advice and support network for immigrants

Contact:

Operative integration work
Ms. Melanie Fiebich
Town Hall B, Room 225
Telephone: 05361 28-2740
E-mail: melanie.fiebich@stadt.wolfsburg.de

In recent years, the Step by Step project has made an important contribution to creating an arrival situation for school-age refugees that has offered them security and stability.

• Read more about the Step by Step project here