Migrant Integration. The Reception of Refugees in Leipzig

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1 Migrant Integration The Reception of Refugees in Leipzig November, 29 th 2017 Thomas Fabian, Deputy Mayor City of Leipzig, Department of Youth, Social Affairs, Health and Education

2 Leipzig 27 Years after the Peaceful Revolution Photo: LTM Punctum, Alexander Schmidt 2

3 Number of migrants Migration and the City of Leipzig Foreigners Germans with a migration background Germans with a migration background (estimate) 3

4 Geographic Distribution of Migrants in Leipzig Percentage of Population with migration background: < 5% 5-10% 10-15% 15-20% > 20% 4

5 Refugees 2015 and 2016 has been characterized by quickly accommodating a large number of asylum seekers Mural in Tarifa, Spain 5

6 Number of refugees Refugees received in Leipzig Asylum Seekers unaccompanied minors 6

7 Immediate Action 7

xenophobic attitudes Open discussions in many

8 Political Leadership: Continuous and Transparent Communication Proactive communication against xenophobic attitudes Open discussions in many neighborhood meetings Overwhelming civil engagement 8

social welfare city planning real estate building regulation finance contract management Collaboration within and outside the Administration Refugees were a top priority of local administration for

9 social welfare city planning real estate building regulation finance contract management Collaboration within and outside the Administration Refugees were a top priority of local administration for two years Weekly meetings of heads of departments with the mayor Unity in action: task force on refugee housing Accelerating decision making processes Task Force Refugees Intensive cooperation with regional and national organizations health affairs youth affairs staff management 9

10 Our Strategy for Integration 10

11 Political Guidelines and a Concept for Integration 11

12 Geographic Distribution of Refugee Homes 12

13 Social Work Support refugees in daily life Serve as contact persons for immediate neighbors Build networks into the wider community 13

14 Education: Start Early German language as a key factor for integration 14

15 Integration into Work Measures by Employment Agency and Job Center: Integration programmes with various focuses: 15

16 Culture 16

17 Sports & Leisure 17

18 Cooperate with all stakeholders and address all policies welfare agencies civil society national government private companies Local authority regional government housing culture security sports health education employment 18

Our Task: Helping Refugees to Settle In Refugees shall arrive well in our cities It is our duty to accompany them on their way into our urban societies

19 Our Task: Helping Refugees to Settle In Refugees shall arrive well in our cities It is our duty to accompany them on their way into our urban societies Leipzig s mentoring program: Ankommen in Leipzig Photo: Eric Kemnitz This will be achieved in joint efforts of administration, politics and civil society 19

20 Thank you!

Department of Youth, Social Affairs, Health and Schools 04092

21 Department of Youth, Social Affairs, Health and Schools Leipzig Tel.: Fax.:

Integrating Refugees: The Central Role of Cities

Integrating Refugees: The Central Role of Cities Thomas Fabian Deputy Mayor, City of Leipzig Chair of EUROCITIES Social Affairs Forum 1 Shaping the Arrival and Integration of Refugees Cities are places