Since 2018, 48 integration managers have been supporting refugees on their way to leading an independent life. In a loose series, we present success stories of integration in the district of Ludwigsburg.
It has been six years since Shefket Aliev fled Macedonia with his family. Today, almost nothing reminds him of that time, as the family has long since "arrived" in beautiful Enzweihingen. Shefket started in the preparatory class at the Schlossbergschule in Vaihingen an der Enz in 2015. He was twelve years old at the time.
Shefket, his three siblings and his parents arrived in Aalen as refugees. They were quickly transferred to the state reception center in Ellwangen. A short time later, they were transferred to Ludwigsburg. Here, the family arrived in temporary accommodation in Vaihingen-Enzweihingen. "The accommodation was fine and the garden was very nice," they remember today.
The family received a very warm welcome in the town. They quickly made friends through the volunteer group in Enzweihingen. Shefket and his siblings were quickly accepted into the Indiaka group. Their German language skills improved so much that Shefket no longer had to stay in the preparatory class.
Thanks to the contacts he made in the Indiaka group, he then joined the youth group. He felt at home here right from the start. Shefket's siblings are also part of the Jungschar. Shefket finds friends here, in addition to school, and is accepted. As a refugee, that is not a matter of course. When he became too old for the Jungschar, the next step was to join the Jugendbund. This was followed by activities such as joint hikes and an accompanied trip lasting several days during the summer vacations. In 2019, he visited the Dresden area together with the Jugendbund. "That was really cool," says Shefket. He is still active in the youth association today.
The family then moved to the follow-up accommodation in 2018, where they still felt very comfortable as they could continue to live in Enzweihingen, but their desire for a private apartment grew. This was because Shefket and his siblings were getting older and there was less and less space for the family. When Shefket and his family moved into the follow-up accommodation, the integration management in the Pact for Integration began. Together with the social worker from the German Red Cross District Association Lud-wigsburg e.V., the goals of Shefket and his family are precisely recorded and documented. The goals are set together and in most cases achieved. The parents' goals are clearly defined: To remain in employment, as both parents are working. They would like to be able to give their children what they did not have themselves.
In October 2019, a local resident from Enzweihingen became aware of the family through the volunteering group and the mother's work. At the time, he was renovating his parents' house, which would offer enough space for the whole family. Together with the volunteers and the social worker, the family successfully rented the property in December 2020.
The move to a larger apartment came at just the right time, as Shefket had his exams for his secondary school leaving certificate in Bietigheim-Bissingen in spring 2021. He needed a lot of peace and quiet while studying. He graduated well and already has a training contract for September 2021.
"Shefket and his family have achieved great goals to date. Integration is a long process and we are not at the end yet, but we are on the right track and the goal is getting closer and closer. A new chapter begins for Shefket in September 2021 with his training and I'm looking forward to being able to support him," says Sinem Jenner from the DRK Ludwigsburg district association.
The family currently has a tolerated employment permit, as the father has already been employed for more than three years and is subject to social security contributions. The aim is for them to be able to stay in Germany permanently. So there is still a lot to do for Shefket and his family.
Background: The Pact for Integration
The integration management / pact for integration is a broad network of Arbeiterwohl-fahrt, Caritas, Kreisdiakonieverband, the district association of the German Red Cross and the Ludwigsburg district office and is proving to be a fundamental building block for success. This is based on the voluntary participation of the refugees. The basis is the identification of needs in discussions between social workers and refugees. On this basis, concrete goals are jointly formulated. These are set out in writing in an integration plan and worked on gradually. The goals are integration into the local community, connection to the standard care systems and the acquisition of skills to lead an independent life. Once the specific goals have been achieved and the refugee is able to organize their life independently, integration management can be terminated. The refugee can then receive further support from regular services such as migration advice if required.
At the start of 2021, 2469 refugees were being looked after by Integration Management, 970 of whom were minors. 13 percent of adult clients are in employment subject to social insurance contributions. In addition, four percent are in training, an internship or studying. Integration management has already ended for 1253 people (as at 01.03.2021). Of these, 780 people were able to sign a tenancy agreement and have private accommodation for the first time.
