SOCIAL POLICIES IN OFFENBACH AND GERMANY
Offenbach has hugely benefited from adopting Germany’s Social City program since 2002 which was activated through neighbourhood management, focused on education, urban development, social cohesion and employment (See feature image diagram). This is carried out through the number of district offices around Offenbach, which aim to support migrant communities within these areas such as shown in the diagram below of the Nordend, neighbourhood office.
Many of these offices offer learning opportunities, training courses and community spaces to encourage cultural integration. Due to the success of the integration concept, this was expanded to 3 other districts. As a result Offenbach is culturally diverse with residents from over 152 countries. The city centre continues to work as a place of arrival and exit, especially for the younger generation.
The timeline outlines key dates where social integration policies were introduced in Germany and Offenbach.
Bmub.bund.de. (2017). Social City / BIWAQ. [online] Available at: http://www.bmub.bund.de/en/topics/city-housing/urban-development-assistance/social-city-biwaq/ [Accessed 16 Jan. 2017].
Offenbach. (2017). Offenbachs Integrationsleistungen haben System. [online] Available at: https://www.offenbach.de/leben-in-of/soziales-gesellschaft/integration_und_zusammenleben/integrationskonzept-der-stadt.php [Accessed 16 Jan. 2017].
AN INTER-CULTURAL CITY
Offenbach is a city of many cultures; with inhabitants migrating from over 150 different nations, cultural events play an important role in successful integration. Occasions such as “Intercultural Week”, “Mainuferfest” and the Wilhelmplatz weekly market unite diverse cultures through music, dance, conversation, and by sharing food and drink.