Schwenningen-Mitte: Neighborhood management brings cultures closer together!

Schwenningen-Mitte: Neighborhood management brings cultures closer together!

Something is happening in Villingen-Schwenningen: The newly launched project “Our District – Neighborhood Management of Schwenningen City Center” is intended to promote coexistence among residents and increase the quality of life in the district. This project was initiated by the Learning-Fördern-Arbeiten Foundation (LFA), the Pro-Kids Foundation and the city itself. The neighborhood managers Christine Hembach, Marko Juric and Vanessa Mei Lin See have set themselves the goal of actively getting in touch with citizens and recording their concerns and wishes. For example, a questionnaire is distributed at a shared breakfast on the city beach, which is intended to provide valuable insights into the mood and needs of the residents. As Schwarzwälder Bote reports, various activities are planned to strengthen the exchange between generations and cultures.

Marko Juric in particular, president of the Boxing VS association and trainer in the “Fight for your life” integration project, brings his experience and passion to build bridges between different cultures. Christine Hembach reiterates the positive view of Schwenningen and sees great potential to revitalize the city center. Numerous activities are planned, such as reading afternoons for seniors and neighborhood help, which are particularly important in a neighborhood with a proportion of 46 percent foreigners and over 62 percent people with a migrant background Südkurier highlights.

Shared breakfast and comprehensive plans

The neighborhood managers are pleased about the committed implementation of the project and invite everyone interested to a weekly breakfast on the city beach, which takes place every Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. until September 2nd. The offer should not only offer delicious rolls, but also a platform to chat about wishes and concerns. “We want to bring diverse cultures together and develop a sense of togetherness,” explains Marko Juric. The neighborhood management sees itself as the key to the dialogue between the residents and the city.

Julia Kienzler, the project manager, emphasizes the importance of synergies between different social projects. It is crucial that various providers and institutions, such as libraries, youth welfare offices and social welfare organizations, pull together. After all, this neighborhood management should also serve as a model for similar projects in other parts of the city and enable extensive cooperation to develop targeted solutions for local problems.

Social challenges and goals

The realignment of neighborhood management in Villingen-Schwenningen also reflects the current need for action, which, according to Mayor Jürgen Roth, is urgent. Migration has often led to different cultures coexisting in Schwenningen, and it is time to create a unifying element. The issue of social inequality in cities is not being discussed again; As early as 1999, the “Social City” program addressed the challenges that are affecting more and more neighborhoods, as bpb describes.

Neighborhood management aims to improve disadvantaged areas and promote integration. Participatory approaches are crucial: the living conditions of the local people should be taken into account in the planning. A coherent plan to not only support disadvantaged population groups, but also to give them a voice.

These promising approaches show that Villingen-Schwenningen is clearly on the way to growing together and forming an inclusive community. The next few months will show whether this pilot project sets a precedent and can become a model for other districts.