10 years of St. Andreas Parish: language courses and encounters for everyone!

10 years of St. Andreas Parish: language courses and encounters for everyone!

In Schwerin, the St. Andreas community will be celebrating a special anniversary this month: for ten years now, the community has been offering language courses and a meeting café, which has established itself as an important meeting place for people from different backgrounds. The celebrations took place as part of the nationwide week of Catholic refugee aid, at which Archbishop Stefan Heße and the Federal Development Minister Reem Alabali Radovan (SPD) were guests. These special guests underlined the role that intercultural exchange plays in our society, especially in challenging times.

In her remarks, Radovan emphasized the importance of people from different cultures coming together. “It's about making contacts and supporting each other,” she said, giving a nice expression to the basic idea of ​​the St. Andreas community. The language courses on offer are aimed at learning German and thus making integration into society easier. You can find out about various options at the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, where there are numerous programs for language support and their requirements.

Language courses for everyone

The St. Andreas community is not alone in its approach to offering language courses. In Germany there are a variety of options for learning the German language or improving existing knowledge. As part of the integration course, which was introduced in 2005, over two million people took the opportunity to expand their language skills. Anyone who legally lives permanently in Germany is entitled to these courses. It should be particularly emphasized that migrants who received a residence permit after January 1, 2005 are obliged to attend such a course. Often this course not only focuses on the language itself, but also offers important information about life in Germany, such as values ​​and the German legal system.

Integration on site is supported by a variety of measures. For example, there are special offers for different target groups: from integration courses for women and parents to special courses for young people under 27 or a literacy measure for non-literate people. These courses include extensive curricula that ensure that participants are well prepared in all relevant areas of life. Successful completion of the language course is confirmed by the German Test for Immigrants (DTZ), which includes both written and oral exams.

A meeting place for community

The St. Andreas community has established itself as an important part of the integration process in Schwerin. The meeting café is not only a place to practice the German language, but also a place where cultural exchange can take place. Direct contact and spending time together in an informal atmosphere help to break down prejudices and promote mutual understanding. Here people not only get to know each other, but also the German culture and way of life, which is crucial for successful integration.

With its anniversary, the St. Andreas community is looking back on a successful decade with a clear goal: to build bridges between different cultures. The celebration will reflect the successes of the past few years while also looking to the future. The importance attached to these offers is also underlined by the visits of high-ranking politicians. “If you celebrate together, it’s easier to get into conversation,” summarized Radovan during her visit, and it is therefore clear that the St. Andreas parish will continue to be an important contact point for integration and community in the coming years.