Project Start WienMA 17 - Integration and Diversity

Goran Novakovic

June 8th, 2011

Concept

• Research on integration support programs in other European cities and Canada, interviews with new migrants

• No other city has a program that is comparable to the "Start Wien" project for new migrants in Vienna.

• The project is tailored to the individual needs of migrants

• All services - start coaching, information modules, second level start coaching - are provided in the mother tongues of the new migrants.

Target groups

• People who come to Austria for reasons of family reunion with an Austrian citizen or a third-country national

• Since January 2011 also for all EEA nationals and third-country nationals who are family members of EEA nationals and who have since received a confirmation of registration (for EU citizens) or a residence card from Municipal Department 35 - Immigration, Citizenship, Registry Offices (MA 35).

Start Wien - Getting a head start in Vienna

• Since 1 October 2008 Municipal Department 17 has been providing new migrants in Vienna with comprehensive support under the "Start Wien" project

The "Start Wien" project has been implemented in cooperation with • Municipal Department 35 - Immigration, Citizenship, Registry Offices (MA

35)• the Information Centre for Migrants• the Vienna Employment Promotion Fund• the Vienna Public Employment Services (AMS)• the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber and• the Vienna Chamber of Labour

Start Wien - services

• Start coaching• Vienna education booklet• Vienna language vouchers• Information modules• Second level start coaching

Start coaching appointment at "Start Wien"

• a service tailored to the individual needs of new migrants

• one-hour consultation

• can be held in 24 languages

• usually held right after migrants receive their residence title from Municipal Department 35 - Immigration, Citizenship, Registry Offices

Start Coaching: Contents

New migrants

• receive the Vienna education booklet that includes the Vienna language vouchers

• are provided with important information about the most relevant topics to get a good start in Vienna

• receive advice about suitable German language courses and valuable tips and

• advice for their first few weeks and months in Vienna.

Vienna education booklet

• for new migrants in Vienna

• includes the Vienna language vouchers in the amounts of EUR 300 or EUR 150

• has been jointly developed by relevant organisations, institutions and authorities

• all education and further training measures such as German language courses and information modules are recorded in the booklet

Vienna language vouchers

• According to the Integration Agreement, new migrants have to prove their German language skills (level A2) within five years after their arrival in Austria

• Municipal Department 17 supports them with the Vienna language vouchers

• New migrants who arrived in Austria after 1 October 2008 receive the Vienna language voucher in the amount of EUR 300 Euro (three vouchers in the amount of EUR 100 each).

Vienna language vouchers

They have to meet the following requirements:

• They are in Vienna following family reunification with an Austrian citizen or with a third-country national

• They received an initial residence permit from Municipal Department 35 - Immigration, Citizenship, and Registry Offices

• They have collected their Vienna education booklet at their start coaching appointment

• The Vienna language voucher can be combined with the language voucher of the Austrian Integration Fund (Österreichischer Integrationsfonds, ÖIF).

Vienna language vouchers

Language voucher in the amount of EUR 150 (three vouchers in the amount of EUR 50 each)

• for EEA nationals and third-country nationals who are family members of EEA nationals

They have to meet the following requirements:

• They are family members, self-employed or employed

• They have received a confirmation of registration or a residence card after 1 January 2011 from Municipal Department 35

• They have collected their Vienna education booklet at the start coaching appointment

Information modules at "Start Wien"

• Information days are held at the Public Learning Centre VHS Favoriten on the second Saturday of each month

• Information modules are held in 24 languages free of charge

• New migrants and anyone who is interested are welcome to

attend the information modules.

• The modules are held as two-hour information events where migrants can ask questions and receive handouts with the most important information and addresses on the topic at hand in their mother tongues.

Information modules at "Start Wien"

• Information module subjects are: Living together, residence matters, education, housing, healthcare, working environment, profession and recognition of qualifications

• The modules "profession" and "recognition of qualifications" are held at the Vienna Employment Promotion Fund (waff) and the "Perspektive" advice centre respectively.

Second level start coaching

• Second level start coaching can be held in several languages

It is a service for all holders of a Vienna education booklet

who:

• have lived in Vienna for a while

• maybe already attend a German language course or

• who have already found a job but

• who still need more information and advice about relevant topics of everyday life

Austrian Integration Award for the "Start Wien" project

• The best integration projects in Austria were awarded with a prize on 7 June 2010

• Municipal Department 17 received the Austrian

Integration Award for the "Start Wien" project in the category "Promotion & Support".

European Language Label for "Start Wien"

• Project manager Ursula Eltayeb and her team accepted the award at the Austrian Ministry for Education on 5 October 2010

• The European Language Label is the second award for the "Start Wien" project

• The European Label is an award that encourages new and sustainable initiatives in the field of teaching and learning languages

Results: October 2008 – May 2011

• 7300 new migrants have been reached since 2008 MA 17 in Vienna with this project and received an education booklet

• 15.400 people attended lectures (information

modules) at „Start Wien“ that were held in their mother tongues.

MA 17

Integration und Diversität

Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 3

A - 1080 Wien

Tel.: +43 1 4000 81510

E-Mail: post@m17.wien.gv.at

www.wien.gv.at/english/social/integration

www.startwien.at