Our services are primarily aimed at female migrants from the Siegen-Wittgenstein district. The Siegen-Wittgenstein district is a rural area with a strong centre in Siegen. The more remote communities, such as Burbach or Bad Berleburg, are difficult to reach by public transport. As a result, female migrants are often left to deal with the problem of transport connections on their own and are not always able to take advantage of the standard services offered by integration agencies. The latest integration profile for the Siegen-Wittgenstein district was published in 2022 and contains surveys from 2021. The integration profile shows that 35,837 women with a migrant background live in the district as a whole. This corresponds to around 26% of the total female population and 13.6% of the district’s total population. It can be assumed that this figure has increased dramatically due to the influx of Ukrainian refugee women. However, integration services for women have not adapted to the changed situation. Waiting times for integration courses have increased and there is an acute shortage of language courses on offer. Added to this is the problem of a lack of experience and knowledge of the local public transport system. Our association therefore sees the primary goal of the MiA courses as ensuring that women gain experience of mobility and working with them to develop different mobility options. Our second major goal is to improve everyday language skills, which contribute significantly to the women’s orientation in their surroundings and independence.

Our focus areas in the MiA courses:

• Initial language orientation. Project-related measures: teaching basic German language skills in traditional lessons with group work, excursions, role-playing everyday situations, workshops.

• Knowledge of German society and the local structures of voluntary work and social institutions. Project-related measures: Information events, knowledge transfer using short films, meetings with associations and organisations in the places of residence of the participating women.

• Life planning (self-management): Clarification of support needs, information event on recognition of qualifications, professional qualifications, application processes, further training opportunities.

• Strengthening parenting skills and expanding knowledge of the education system: Project-related measures: Information events with Q&A sessions, visits to nurseries and schools.

The project is funded by the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees.