GMF’s Immigration and Integration program launched the first ever “Welcoming Weeks” in Germany, on April 24.  As part of the GMF Welcoming Weeks, GMF showcases Canadian and U.S. initiatives from the private, public and civil society sector that aim to create a welcoming climate and implement concrete welcoming projects for newcomers and the receiving society.

The Welcoming Weeks kicked off with an event hosted in cooperation with the Canadian Embassy in Berlin on the model and function of welcome centers in Canada, as they could provide insights for German welcome centers for newcomers that are currently being planned. The issue and debate was introduced by Mario Calla from COSTI Immigrant Services, an NGO that co-manages five welcome centers in the York region.

After a welcome by Eric Walsh, Chargé d'affaires at the Embassy of Canada, Mario Calla explained that the welcome centers in the York region:

• were founded through a community initiative to support the region's capacity to welcome and integrate immigrants and create social capital for a vibrant economy, a highly skilled labor force and an enviable quality of life. Established in 2007 as a coordinated, one-stop concept funded by the federal and provincial government and local initiatives, the welcome centers provide all services to immigrants under one roof ranging from language classes and settlement and integration services to employment support and accreditation information.

• are successful also because the NGOs that provide the different services are not represented with their logo and do not act as independent associations. Rather a holistic welcome center identity is forged and everyone contributes to the successful integration of the newcomer. 

• were set up by putting the needs and questions a newcomer would have as the starting point, rather than thinking what structures and services exist that could be used.

• maintain a mobile outreach unit, mini-vans that are fully technologically equipped also for video conferencing to add translators for services. This unit goes to newcomer and migrant communities that reside in areas that otherwise would be under served.

After Mario Calla’s presentation, a lively and engaging discussion with 20 stakeholders from ministries, foundations, business associations, NGOs and think tanks took place. The discussion focused on Germany’s specific challenges in integrating newcomers and initiatives that have already been created such as “Make it in Germany”, a website launched by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology that provides useful information to potential newcomers. Other topics discussed included the challenges of transferring the Canadian models to Germany and how to make those migrants feel welcomed that moved to Germany decades ago.