Why are we running this project?
An increasing number of families in Germany immigrated from or fled another country. Their children are legally entitled to a daycare place. Therefore, it has long been the reality for children from different cultures to spend time together at daycare centers, constituting diversity in action. However, rising numbers of immigrants increase the already strong demand for childcare places. Qualified staff are scarce. Which is why it makes sense to draw on the existing potential while tapping new potential as well, for instance by recruiting immigrants with suitable pedagogical training.
There are education specialists among the people arriving in Germany whose degrees from their home countries are not recognized, so that they currently don’t work or work in a different sector. They could both alleviate the shortage of skilled professionals and provide valuable additional skills: their culture and language-specific expertise, knowledge, natural access to other immigrant families, and enriching perspectives on working with children. Presently, only 8% of early education professionals have a migrant background. It would be desirable to increase this share by hiring qualified specialists, thus reflecting the diversity among children also on the educator and administrator levels. This is where “Diversity Welcome” comes in. The project is scientifically monitored and supported by the University of Education Schwaebisch Gmuend and the University of Tübingen
What are our goals?
We want every child, irrespective of their background, to have the best-possible conditions for education and social participation. Our project promotes this goal by working closely with daycare center administrators and teams to initiate a cultural opening. More specifically, we
- train professionals with a migrant background,
- support selected daycare centers for a period of two years,
- build a daycare network on migration-related topics,
- and help overcome administrative hurdles in the recognition of degrees.
How does the project work?
“Diversity Welcome” is a two-year pilot project initially run in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg. It addresses
- immigrants with a professional degree from their home country that is comparable to Germany’s certified daycare educator training. German language skills on B1 level are required. Professionals accepted into the program receive personalized support in the form of language classes, professional qualification, and, if needed, help with the recognition of their degree.
The pilot project also addresses
- interested daycare centers whose administrations and teams are willing to break new ground by starting a two-year development process. Only daycare centers in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg are eligible to apply. If they are accepted into the program, they undergo an individual needs assessment, before forming a steering committee which receives systematic advice and support in regularly scheduled workshops. When the organizational development is completed, the daycare center is certified. No fees apply for the advice and support.
Who are the target groups?
The pilot project targets education professionals with a migrant background and interested daycare centers.
Who supports the program?
"Diversity Welcome" is a joint project of the Robert Bosch Stiftung and BBQ - Berufliche Bildung gGmbH, a non-profit educational institution and part of Bildungswerk der Baden-Württembergischen Wirtschaft e.V., the state’s education and training organization of employers.