The children, youth and family department of the city of Salzgitter was looking for interested people, especially citizens with a migration background, who would like to work as school mediators at elementary school. Nine women and one man took part in the one-week training course.
Their migration background is as diverse as their professional situation: the participants speak Arabic, Turkish, Bulgarian, Russian, French, Georgian or Kurdish. Some have completed a degree in their country of origin or in Germany and are using this project to get back into work. Others have completed an apprenticeship and are looking for new jobs in Salzgitter.
The participants were prepared for an assignment at elementary school. The program included various topics such as the German school system, intercultural skills, child protection and conducting conversations.
With their certificates of participation, the women and men can accompany parent-teacher talks at schools or help with translations. The "SchuMis" also provide better access to parents with limited language skills.
"The school mediators act as guides at the schools and support the school social workers," said Martina Malak, Head of Municipal Child and Youth Support in the Children, Youth and Family Department. In this way, the participants take on an important bridging function between parents and school. On behalf of City Councillor Dr. Dirk Härdrich and Dr. Roswitha Krum, Head of the Children, Youth and Family Department, she congratulated the participants on their successful completion and wished them every success.
The group of this pilot project participated enthusiastically and are looking forward to their assignments at the elementary school, which are currently being coordinated with those responsible. The weekly working time will be 4 hours (20 hours per month).
The school mediator (SchuMi) project is part of the "Integration through enculturation" project, which finances the participants' work in schools. The training is financed by the BraWo Foundation.