Organized by the WelcomeCenter Saxony-Anhalt, newcomers and those who have returned to their former home in Saxony-Anhalt took part in the online meeting “Forum for Newcomers and Returnees.”
Kerstin Mogadans, coordinator of the WelcomeCenter Saxony-Anhalt, and Claudia Bär, regional advisor for skilled workers with the state initiative “Fachkraft im Fokus,” co-hosted the event.
Some of the participants had only recently moved to Saxony-Anhalt, while for others, the move had taken place some time ago. At the online meeting, they engaged in discussion and shared their motivations, their experiences, and the hurdles they had to overcome to settle in Saxony-Anhalt.
Munich, Unna, Vienna, a small village in Ukraine, or South Africa—the participants’ most recent places of residence were as diverse as their reasons for seeking a new home in Saxony-Anhalt.
Whether it was love, studies, career opportunities, or a return to family and friends, many factors played a role in the participants’ decision to relocate and move to a city or rural region in Saxony-Anhalt.
The discussion in the small group intensified when it came to the challenges each individual had to overcome. In many cases, it was a matter of overcoming bureaucratic hurdles. Long wait times for appointments or limited options for conducting job interviews online, for example, delayed their arrival in their new home.
However, no one regretted the decision to come to Saxony-Anhalt. The region’s advantages outweigh the challenges.
Positive aspects mentioned included, for example, the good childcare options, the school system, the low cost of living, and the mindset of the people in Saxony-Anhalt.
In many cases, the WelcomeCenter Saxony-Anhalt or the regional advisors from the state initiative “Fachkraft im Fokus” were involved in supporting the participants’ move to or return from the region. During the online meeting, Kerstin Mogdans and Claudia Bär presented the range of services offered by the state initiative “Fachkraft im Fokus” and continued to offer assistance to the participants.
The discussions provided many valuable insights for the WelcomeCenter’s future work, enabling us to continue our efforts to make it easier for people to settle in Saxony-Anhalt. We thank every single member of the group for participating and are particularly pleased that some of the participants wish to continue networking and building relationships even after this exchange.
The 5th Forum is planned for fall 2023. Anyone who would like to attend can register at any time with Kerstin Mogdans.
Kerstin Mogdans
Coordinator, WelcomeCenter Saxony-Anhalt | Office for Welcome Structures and Family-Friendliness
Phone: +49 391 400669 16
Mobile: +49 152 53791663
mogdans@fachkraft-im-fokus.de
