Integration - Specht: Young migrants not to lose sight during integration
The Integration of young refugee generations poses challenges for the Mayor of Mannheim, according to Christian Specht, as quoted by the "Mannheimer Morgen" (Saturday). "Taking in the third and fourth generations is a great challenge," he said. There are significant differences between the first generation that came to Germany in the 1960s and 70s, and "nowadays, we're not just talking about Turkish migration anymore, but a multi-ethnic migration," the CDU politician added. "This means we constantly have to question whether the concepts we use still apply." It needs to be adjusted.
Regarding the conflict in Gaza and social cohesion in Mannheim, the Mayor stated: "There are established dialogue structures between certain actors of different religious groups that function well even in a crisis. The question is, however, whether we're addressing the actual problems related to integration." Some teachers reportedly hesitate to openly discuss the Near East conflict in the classroom when 75 percent or more of the children have a migration background.
"Youth center leaders report that we only reach a small segment of the youth we want to reach," Specht said. "We need to be careful not to lose sight of the many others." Mosque associations also reportedly lose young people to groups that radicalize them with extremist slogans. "That's why we need to focus more on how youth work functions in migrant communities and how it is networked," Specht added. He discussed developing a model project for systematic radicalization prevention with Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD).
- During the 1960s, a significant wave of migration shifted the demographic landscape in Baden-Württemberg, with many migrants settling in cities like Mannheim.
- Christian Specht, a prominent CDU politician in Mannheim, emphasized the importance of adjusting integration strategies to cater to the needs of the diverse migrant population, including the third and fourth generations.
- In the 1960s, Mannheim became a hub for migration, welcoming individuals from various backgrounds, which has contributed to the city's multicultural fabric in the present day.
- Specht acknowledged the importance of integration efforts in addressing challenges in places like Mannheim, where over 75% of children in some classes have a migration background.
- The integration of migrants, who first arrived in Baden-Württemberg in the 1960s, has been an ongoing process that continues to require careful attention and adaptation in today's multicultural society.
