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Our mosque in the middle of our city
Project Idea
Since the beginning of the labor migration in the 1960s, migrants, especially those with an Islamic cultural background, have started to organize and meet in self-founded associations.
The German host society often perceives this as a closed system to which they themselves have little access. This often leads to a feeling of insecurity and concern, of sometimes to a parallel coexistence. This current state prevents people’s potential from being optimally used for social needs.
Goals
- Involvement of representatives of the mosques in existing bodies of the city / municipality
- Opening of mosques, dismantling of reservations
- Promotion of integration, networking with associations, daycare centers, schools and other religious or church organizations
- Integration and networking in the district
- Promotion of community engagement
- Training and promotion of suitable structures in the host society
Project structure
- Municipality / City: Throughout Hesse, five cities were selected by a jury following a tendering process. The cities provide a contact person who coordinates the work for the project. The city integrates the contact persons of the mosque community into existing committees and helps with networking in the city's existing structures (clubs, schools, daycare centers)
- Mosque Associations: Only certain cities were elected in which committed mosque associations had applied as well. Within the mosque communities, a contact person is appointed by the board who will be trained by the TDG and who will work on the part of the mosque community for integration and networking. These contacts in the mosque communities then coordinate the project on site.
- Networking: As part of the model project, a process of intercultural opening is to be initiated, which includes committees and organs of the city as well as associations and other institutional offers of the city and links them with the mosque community.
Results
The project was evaluated, and the results were published in the form of a manual, which was also made available to other municipalities so that they can promote networking independently.
Contact: TDG Foundation