Pre-Conference Tours
Tour 1: Solingen, starting at approx. 10:00
Urban Development and Cultural Diversity in Solingen, the "City of Blades"
Solingen has approximately 163,000 inhabitants and is situated 50 km north of Bonn. For a long time, its economy was characterised by the knife industry; metal- and synthetic-processing industries followed. This is why today the city is still called "City of Blades". The tour starts with a visit to the Industrial Museum. This is followed by a visit to a bi-cultural (German-Turkish) Children's Day-Care Centre. At the international community centre, which has existed for 25 years, visitors have the opportunity to find out about the work of the migrant advocacy group. The tour concludes with a visit to the Solingen Youth-Support Workshop.
Tour 2: Duisburg, starting at approx. 10:00
Religious Diversity and Multicultural Youth Arts in Duisburg
Duisburg is situated approx. 70 km north of Bonn, on the western border of the Ruhrgebiet, one of Europe's largest industrial centres. Every fourth inhabitant of the city is a migrant, with the largest group being the Turks. For many of them the mosque plays a very important role for their integration into society. That is why the tour will visit the newly established mosque in Duisburg, one of the largest in Germany.
The International Youth and Arts Centre "Kiebitz" was established 23 years ago and offers young people with different cultural backgrounds classes, workshops and theatre projects. A guided tour will introduce the project to the visitors.
Tour 3A, 3B Cologne, starting at approx. 11:00
Continuing Education, Integration and Refugees in Cologne
These two tours will lead us to Cologne, with its one million residents the largest city in North Rhine-Westphalia, and about 25 km north of Bonn. In its two-thousand year long history, Cologne has seen many people come and go. Today, about a third of the residents including 50 percent of the youth under the age of eighteen, have a migration background. Part of tour 3A and 3B is a guided tour of a Centre for Encounter and Continuing Education for Muslim Women. It is a relatively large centre that offers various classes and courses for women, such as German language courses, literary classes and IT-training. Tour 3A then continues with a visit to "Coach", a club that has specialised in the education and integration of young immigrants. They offer advice on school problems as well as occupational choices. Tour 3B also visits the Intercultural Refugee Centre, where six refugee organisations from Eritrea, Iran, Angola, Bosnia, Vietnam and India have joined up and now provide a place of refuge and consolation.
Tour 4: Cologne, starting at approx. 11:15
Nippes Museum Centre
The museum is situated in the Cologne district of Nippes, a mixed area of housing, commerce and production near the city centre, where the percentage of immigrants is above average. Twenty-five employees give lessons to about 400 visitors of all ages, nationalities and social backgrounds. They do casework which is supplemented by individual tutoring, group work, counselling on school and vocational carriers and organise community projects. The projects are connected with exhibitions which help to correct negative images of migrant and unemployed workers, youth and young women. The centre belongs to a network of 30 local agencies concerned with measures against youth unemployment and co-operate in particular with 60 schools. After the visit to the museum there will be a tour of the Nippes district.
Tour 5: Essen, starting at approx. 10:00
Culture and Migration in Essen, the Ruhr Metropolis
Essen, one of the largest cities in Germany, is situated approx. 90 km north of Bonn in the Ruhr region and is a traditional location for immigrants in Germany. The tour starts with a visit to RAA Essen, a regional office for the promotion of children and youth from immigrant families and intercultural work. A key activity of the office in this context is the provision of assistance to young people in their transition fromschool to the labour market. Essen is also the European Capital of Culture "RUHR.2010". The tour continues with a visit to the coordination office of the RUHR.2010, which envisions building a single new metropolitan region in out of 53 individual cities. RUHR.2010 will also address "immigration" as one of the most challenging issues for the future of the European city.
Tour 6: Duesseldorf, starting at approx. 10:30
The Capital of North Rhine-Westphalia
Reception in the hosting Ministry of Intergenerational Affairs, Family, Women and Integration of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia. Here, the integration policies of the Department for Integration will be introduced. This will be followed by a guided tour through the parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia.
Tour 7: Bonn, starting at approx. 11:00
Cultural Diversity, Integration and Migration Policies in Bonn
Bonn is the German UNO City and was the Federal Capital of Germany for five decades. Out of its 316,000 residents, 23% are immigrants. Not far from the World Conference Center Bonn, Deutsche Post World Net has built its new home: 41 floors high and the tallest building in Bonn.
A leading logistics group with staff members from all over the world, Deutsche Post World Net will show a film on their corporate culture and discuss their approach to Diversity Management.
After that, there will be an encounter with the Integration Officer of the City Council of Bonn in the Old Town Hall. We then walk together to the Bonner Altstadt (The Old City of Bonn), a neighborhood with a high percentage of immigrant population. In the Marienschule (Marien School) we will visit the Project Come-IN, an intercultural Computer club supported by the University Siegen, where children and parents from different cultures learn together.
Tour 8: Bonn, starting at approx. 14:00
The former German capital and its future as an International and UN City
A guided tour through the City of Bonn. On the "Path of Democracy" – the former Government District in Bonn, now the International District with the UN Campus, will be visited, as well as Beethoven's birth place and the town hall.
Tour 9: Bonn, starting at approx. 11:00
Boat Trip on the Rhine River
The two-hour boat trip will begin from the Bonn pier near the WCCB. During the cruise, the guests will be informed about the numerous sights along the River Rhine. The boat will dock at the town of Linz for two hours, and participants will have the opportunity to explore the historic part of the "Colourful Town on the Rhine". Linz Castle is only one of many historic sites to visit. (Participation in this tour will cost an additional fee of 20,00 €, payable while registering)
