On behalf of the Roundtable on Refugee Issues, a new guide has been developed on how to handle retroactive charges for utility 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.
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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…
City of Cologne 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
City of Cologne/ Integration House e.V. 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
