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Combine sport and games: Successful integration festival in Gerstungen!
Sports and games festival in the Wartburg district promotes the integration of 200 children; The focus is on positive feedback and shared exchange.
Combine sport and games: Successful integration festival in Gerstungen!
The integration management of the Wartburg district organized a sports and games festival in Gerstungen in September, which proved to be a real hit. With over 200 children from the local primary school, high school and the Berka/Werra mainstream school, the event was well attended and provided the young participants and their families with a platform for exchange and togetherness. Kevin Rodeck, integration manager for the Wartburg district, emphasized the central role of coming together in his opening speech. “Integration starts with small steps together,” he emphasized, introducing the lively activity of the event.
The positive response from the previous year ensured that the sports festival was brought back to life. Supported by various actors, such as the Partnership for Democracy Wartburgkreis and the ESV Gerstungen, the initiators ensured a varied program. A soccer tournament, organized by the Thuringia State Sports Association, as well as creative workshops from the Wartburgkreis children's and youth art school captivated the visitors. The physical well-being was taken care of with a delicious selection of bratwursts, hot dogs and freshly baked cake, which lightened the atmosphere even further.
Strong together – The contribution of sport to integration
The importance of sport for social integration should not be underestimated. As bpb.de shows, sports clubs play a key role when it comes to promoting the integration of new immigrants. They not only provide a platform for exercise and community, but also social contact and emotional support. What is particularly important here is an open, welcoming culture, which is required by both newcomers and the host society.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, numerous sports clubs support the social integration of refugees. Projects such as “Welcome to Sport” aim to attract volunteers to sport and thus create connections between old and new fellow citizens. In this context, participants can not only develop sporting skills, but also learn the German language and receive important practical help when dealing with authorities, as the State Sports Association of North Rhine-Westphalia emphasizes.
A positive conclusion
Kevin Rodeck drew a consistently positive conclusion at the end of the sports and games festival. He noted progress in integration and the need to repeat such events regularly. The financing was mainly secured by the Partnership for Democracy Wartburgkreis, supported by funding from the Federal Ministry of Education, Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth and the Thuringian Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Labor and Family.
In summary, the successful holding of this festival shows how important sport is as a bridge between different cultures and that this type of event promotes not only community but also understanding and respect between people.