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Hannover’s new service help newcomers get settled
Since summer 2021, the immigration office’s Welcome service (WfD) has been offering different kinds of support to immigrants in the German city of Hannover. Mayor of Hannover Belit Onay, who has recently visited their office, pointed out the importance of the work they are doing.
Mayor Onay stated on social media: “Since August, immigrants have been receiving free social counseling here on a wide variety of issues. In close cooperation with civil society organizations, fast and competent advice can be given on a wide range of topics.”
WfD offers everyone free advice on topics such as education, health, family life, leisure activities or dealing with different application forms and procedures. Immigrants who might be new in Hannover are free to book an appointment via the service’s official website and receive help they are looking for.
Help is provided by social work specialists from various municipal and independent migration advisory services. Furthermore, WfD also works together with the various public administration entities, educational institutions or job centers in order to be able to provide the best advice possible and make the newcomers feel at home as quickly as possible.
“The establishment of the Welcome Service is a very important step towards living a good welcoming culture,” Onay further stated.
Germany’s Willkommenskultur (Welcoming culture) refers to promotion of positive attitude towards foreigners and immigrants and especially highlights the importance of organizations and institutions treating newcomers in a fair way and without discrimination.
Germany is considered to be one of Europe’s most multicultural countries with a long history of immigration. As a result of that immigration, people of different cultures, traditions and religions now live together and make Germany a cosmopolitan country shaped by a diversity of lifestyles. (photo credit: Frenjamin Benklin/Unsplash)
