Ten new integration guides were honoured with certificates and flowers in the town hall. Eight others were unfortunately unable to attend that day. After completing five intensive training sessions, First City Councillor Janika Martin and Beate Koudelka, Head of the Caritas Counselling Services in the Offenbach district, offered their warmest congratulations. The basic qualification was organised and carried out under the leadership of Teresa Hannig from the Diversity and Education Office of the City of Rodgau in close cooperation with Caritas Refugee Counselling Services. It is part of the Hessian state programme WIR, which is committed to the successful integration and participation of immigrants in Hesse. The newly qualified integration guides all have their own experience of migration and therefore have a high degree of empathy and intercultural understanding. From now on, they will support people with a migration background on a voluntary basis to make it easier for them to settle in Rodgau. "With your commitment, you are making an indispensable contribution to social cohesion in our city," emphasised First City Councillor Martin at the certificate presentation. "You accompany people on their way into a new life, provide orientation in an often still unfamiliar environment - and show that integration is not just a task for the administration, but a lively, collaborative process." Various topics were covered during the training, including the German legal system, values and attitudes, intercultural communication and practical help in everyday life. The training was supplemented by communication training and group work to promote cooperation and strengthen social skills. The future tasks of the integration guides are diverse: they accompany people to public offices, authorities, banks or parent-teacher conferences in daycare centres and schools. They also provide support with access to educational programmes, leisure activities and cultural events. The aim is to provide immigrants with personalised, day-to-day support for their integration in Rodgau. The work of the integration guides is coordinated by the City of Rodgau's Diversity and Education Office and the coordinating guide Nidhel Al Bahar. Enquiries can be made by public institutions, schools, associations or directly by the people concerned. For further information, please contact the Diversity and Education Office by e-mail at vielfalt@rodgau.de or by telephone on 06106 693-1239.
