In some quarters of Stuttgart, there is considerable spatial concentration of migrants as well as of socio-economically disadvantaged population groups. In some of these areas, the German population is considerably older than the non-native groups. Such a makeup harbours opportunities but also the potential for conflict. The ‘Haus 49’ is located in such a neighbourhood. It offers recreational activities, educational support and counselling and therewith aims at, among others, improving the opportunities and the integration of migrants, supporting intercultural and interreligious dialogue, and enhancing community relations.

Researcher: Doris Lüken-Klaßen, European forum for migration studies at the University of Bamberg, Germany.

For very young children, the ‘Haus 49’ offers a nursery school; for pupils of all ages, homework supervision programmes, including lunch, sport and play opportunities, are offered. Furthermore, it provides, for instance, holiday camps, conflict mediation training, health care and sex education, and street work. For adults, the centre offers different services and projects, e.g. the “Education Party” project, by which the centre tries to raise involvement and participation of migrant parents in the education of their children: in the style of “Tupperware Parties”, 40 women meet regularly, in order to discuss topics of education in an intimate environment.

House 49, with its “open-door” policy and generation-spanning approach, serves as an intercultural contact centre for many neighbourhood residents, and has an integrative and supporting effect on the multicultural population.

Since the ‘Haus 49’ is open to everyone, every Stuttgarter can benefit from it. It is mainly used by migrants. Per day, some 70 children and 20 adults participate in the ‘programmes’.

Catholic Caritas Association

Stabsabteilung für Integrationspolitik
Stuttgart
Germany
http://www.haus49.de/
Gari Pavkovic (Integration Commissioner), tel. +49-711-2162645

//2007

case

Urban Policy

Housing