News
Thanksgiving ceremony for volunteers in working with refugees
On October 14, at the invitation of the Municipal Integration Center within the Department for Integration and Diversity of the City of Cologne, a thank-you ceremony for all volunteers involved in refugee work took place at the CaféBar „die wohngemeinschaft“. Around 175 volunteers from welcoming initiatives, (post-)migrant associations, neighborhood sports and other associations attended the invitation and used the evening to get together in a relaxed atmosphere to talk, exchange experiences, and make new connections among themselves. The diversity of the engagement was once again very clearly evident on this evening. In her greeting, Amtsleiterin Bettina Baum expressed her special thanks for the valuable work of the volunteers. She emphasized how important their contribution is to a successful coexistence in Cologne and how much the city of Cologne values and needs this work. The thank-you event was funded with funds from the city of Cologne and the NRW Ministry of Children, Youth, Family, Gender Equality, Refugee and Integration (MKJFGFI). A heartfelt thank you to all volunteers for their…
Cultural Intercultural Centers Bus Tour 2026
On October 1st, 2026, the Intercultural Centers organized another bus tour. Under the motto „Where democracy is at home – Cologne on the road: images of the city, diversity, and cohesion,“ various Intercultural Centers were visited. At each stop, the participants address social cohesion. It was shown what important work the Centers do daily, which is an open place of encounter that lives diversity every day. Among the participants were people from various Cologne organizations, politics, the press, and the city administration. An article about the bus tour also appeared in the Cologne City Guide: Article about the bus tour in the Cologne City Guide
Call for Proposals: Funding for Migrant Organizations in Cologne
The grant program for the financial support of migrant organizations (MO) in Cologne aims to help support these organizations. In 2026, it consists of two pillars with different thematic focuses: Please review the funding criteria and the following documents: MOs may submit a funding application by September 6, 2026. Please send your application and any questions to mo-foerderung@stadt-koeln.de
Guidelines on User Fees for Refugees in Municipal Housing Published
On behalf of the Roundtable on Refugee Issues, a new guide has been developed on how to handle retroactive charges for usage fees for refugees in municipal shelters. It is intended for volunteers and full-time staff alike and provides a practical overview of the most common questions, possible courses of action, and available support services. It also includes sample letters, checklists, and explanations of key technical terms. Guide on Usage Fees: Flyer from the Clearinghouse
Municipal Integration Center Publishes Guide on Anti-Racist Organizational Development
Laws prohibit discrimination in the workplace—including on the basis of race, ethnic origin, religion, or worldview. But what does that mean in practice? How can a team position itself effectively in this regard and honestly address the question of how racism and anti-Semitism influence its own structure, decision-making, and communication? Since 2020, the Cologne Municipal Integration Center (KI Köln) has been taking the following approach: As part of an organizational development process critical of racism (RKOE), the team of about 50 members has set itself the goal of gradually eliminating discrimination in order to create fairer and more effective services for people with international family backgrounds and to promote a healthy work environment for everyone. What began with initial workshops on the fundamentals of anti-racism has led to a noticeable cultural shift over the years. Especially in the early days, however, the RKOE was marked by uncertainties, doubts, and fears: Are we racist or anti-Semitic? Won’t the process divide the entire team? What…
Multilingual health events Intercultural centers 2026
From May to October 2026, the intercultural centers will once again be holding multilingual health events in various city districts, with the main topic this year being „addiction“. Further information on the Intercultural Centers and their services can be found here: Intercultural Centers Cologne - All centers and an overview map for Cologne
New brochure from the MOSAIK network for employees of the City of Cologne with
The MOSAIK network is a network for employees of the City of Cologne with an international family history and employees who have experienced racism or antisemitism. It was founded in March 2024 on the initiative of the then Integration Council (now the Committee for Equal Opportunities and Integration) and currently has around 320 members. The network is coordinated by the Municipal Integration Center in the Office for Integration and Diversity. The MOSAIK network organizes events with different focus topics, in particular on empowerment, careers and cultural, linguistic, religious and origin-related diversity. The members are committed to a discrimination-sensitive working environment in which all employees of the city administration have the same opportunities to develop professionally and contribute their perspectives. The MOSAIK network creates spaces for exchange and mutual support. The new brochure contains further compact information about the MOSAIK network. You can access it here: MOSAIK Network brochure
Empowerment calendar of the Intercultural Centers
The Intercultural Centers have been supported by the City of Cologne for over 40 years and are committed to equal and peaceful coexistence in Cologne. The centers are also a place for self-organization and an active and lively shaping of democracy. Furthermore, the Intercultural Centers work against racism and for an urban society of diversity. As part of an empowerment project, the centers have developed a timeless calendar that makes the diversity, creativity and voices of Cologne's urban society visible. The calendar is intended as a long-term companion and offers inspiring impulses from intercultural work. You can find more information about the Intercultural Centers here: Intercultural Centers Cologne - All Centers and an overview map for Cologne If you are interested in a calendar, please contact the Municipal Integration Center: KI@stadt-koeln.de
Visit us at the didacta education fair in Cologne!
didacta is the leading trade fair and continuing education event for the entire education sector. The education platform unites the entire range of modern education and learning opportunities like no other. From March 10-14, the education team and the Center for Multilingualism and Integration (ZMI) will be exhibiting at didacta in Cologne - in Hall 7.1, Stand B038. Municipal Integration Center of the City of Cologne | Exhibitor at didacta 2026 Educational counseling is one of the tasks of the Municipal Integration Center Cologne. The focus here is on all children and young people with an international family history in order to give them good opportunities in education. That's why we help from the very beginning in early childhood education, in school and youth work and also when they start their training, studies or career. We want to lay the foundations early on so that children and young people can do well in life and at work later on. We show what the city and other agencies have to offer in the area of early childhood education.
