Integration and inclusion

Inclusion means enabling people with disabilities to lead a self-determined and independent life. To ensure this, the participation of people with disabilities in municipal decision-making processes and the development of a barrier-free city of Hilden must be promoted and implemented.

The Disability Advisory Board is the body that politically represents the interests of people with disabilities.

At some point, the day comes when every single person wants to turn their back on their parents' home and move into their first own apartment. People with an intellectual disability and their relatives then ask themselves many questions:

• What types of housing are there anyway?
• What are the applications to be submitted?
• Who supports with the things of everyday life?
• And who is financing all this?

Christian Jakubczak from the coordination, contact and counseling center (KoKoBe) for people with intellectual disabilities in the district of Mettmann has answers to these and many other questions. The KoKoBe advises people with intellectual disabilities and their relatives throughout the district on the topics of living, working and leisure.

Advice is provided in the form of home visits. This has proved successful, as people act more relaxed in a familiar environment. Relatives are also very happy to make use of the home visit service. An important advantage here is the availability of notifications, diagnoses and reports that are required for targeted advice. These can be viewed immediately in the home environment.

To make an appointment, Mr. Jakubczak can be reached by phone or email:
Phone: 02104 / 99 2384
Mail: christian.jakubczak@kreis-mettmann.de

The city of Hilden is home to people who came to Germany from over 100 different countries around the world. The reasons for this are almost as diverse as the cultures they come from: Often they did not leave their homeland voluntarily, but because of wars or crises. But economic, family and other reasons were also the reason for many people to come to Germany or to Hilden.

Experience shows that regardless of the reasons people from other countries come to us, they enjoy living in Hilden and plan their future here. When people move in, a society changes.

The municipal institutions and a large network of voluntary helpers accompany and shape the process of integrating immigrants in many ways - ultimately for the benefit of all people in the city. Accordingly, the climate in the city is characterized by cosmopolitanism, respect and acceptance.

In Hilden, the integration of immigrants has always been regarded as a task for society as a whole ("cross-cutting task for society as a whole"). Therefore, "integration" cannot be the task of a single office or department. Nevertheless, there is the position of integration officer in the administration. This is where the threads come together with regard to the city's conceptual work, planning and projects.

The Integration Officer is the administration's contact person for the Integration Council, whose meetings he attends and whose agendas he helps to shape. He is also the contact person for the "Network of Hilden Migrant Associations" with which the city cooperates regarding the planning of integration work. The integration officer also handles the application process for the "Catalogue of Measures for Integration", a pot of 20,000 euros per year from which all agencies in the city can apply for money to promote integrative projects and measures. Applications must be submitted to the integration officer, who then submits a proposal to the social committee, which ultimately decides on the allocation of funds.

The integration officer is also the contact person for people who are volunteering in the area of refugee assistance or are planning to do so. Among other things, he is the interface to the district of Mettmann, from where state funds (funding program "KOMM AN NRW") are provided for the voluntary work of this context.

The "Förderpreis Integration" is also awarded by the Integration Officer. Proposals are to be submitted to him, he convenes the jury and organizes the award ceremony.

The integration officer also provides information on issues related to integration and migration. A personal visit can be arranged by appointment.

Young people help shape their city.

The “ImDialog – Your Voice, Your Identity, Our Diversity” project is aimed at young people between the ages of 16 and 27. They can share their ideas and experiences and play an active role in shaping the project.

The focus is on dialogue: Young people engage in conversation with one another and with others. They develop their own initiatives, such as workshops, cultural events, and discussion forums.

This involves questions such as:

• How do we want to live together in our city?
• How can everyone get involved and share their opinions?
• What can we do to combat prejudice and exclusion?
• How can we highlight diversity and foster mutual respect?

Young people have a say in deciding which issues are important to them and which programs they would like to help design. They take on responsibility and learn how democratic participation works.

The project promotes respectful coexistence. It aims to break down prejudices and combat racism, anti-Semitism, sexism, and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment.

An important part of the project is the peer-to-peer approach. This means that young people design programs for other young people. They share their knowledge and experiences and receive support in doing so. This allows them to put their own ideas into action and realize: My voice matters. I can make a difference.

Who can participate?

The project is aimed at young people between the ages of 16 and 27. It is particularly geared toward young people with a refugee or immigrant background. Participation should be open to everyone, regardless of origin, gender, religion, disability, or sexual and gender identity.

A Project to Promote Greater Participation and Diversity

“ImDialog” is a project funded by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is funded by the Ministry for Children, Youth, Family, Equality, Refugees, and Integration (MKJFGFI) as part of the state program “Participation, Civic Education, and Extremism Prevention for Young Refugees.”

The project builds on the experience gained from its predecessor, “Active Together Locally— Shaping Social and Political Participation.” Over the past three years, that project helped young people in Hilden get involved in social and political life.

Now we move forward—with new ideas, new encounters, and, above all, the voices of young people.

Let's discover together what unites Hilden

New to Hilden? Or have you lived here for a long time?

The “Hilden – Herz – Heimat” Community Workshop brings people together and invites them to discover Hilden together.
What does “home” mean to the people of Hilden?
For some, it’s a specific place. For others, it’s people, memories, language, music, or shared experiences. Home can take many forms.
Through the HeimatWerkstatt Hilden – Hilden-Herz-Heimat, the city of Hilden aims to bring people together in conversation. Together, we want to discover what makes Hilden special to us and what connects us.
Everyone is welcome—regardless of age, background, language, disability, or life story.
Come, get to know others, and join in
People who have recently moved to Hilden, in particular, can make connections at the HeimatWerkstatt and get to know their new town.
After all, settling in is easier when people start talking to one another.
At the meetings, participants share stories, laugh, try new things, and engage in creative activities together. Participants can also contribute their own ideas and help shape future activities.
This is how the HeimatWerkstatt takes shape, step by step, with the people who take part.
Shaping Hilden Together
The HeimatWerkstatt creates spaces where people can get to know one another, try new things together, and strike up conversations.

Currently, the focus is primarily on these activities:

• Sewing and Storytelling: At the “Nähkästchen,” participants sew, create, and share stories together.
• Cooking Together: Cooking events are all about having fun, sharing ideas, and, of course, eating together.
• Be Creative: In a variety of creative workshops, participants can try out their own ideas and create something new.
• Exercise: Activities like yoga allow participants to be active together and do something to improve their well-being.

The activities are open to everyone and encourage you to meet new people, share your own ideas, and have a good time together.

A Place for Connection
An important meeting place for the HeimatWerkstatt is the Haus der Vielfalt at Gerresheimer Straße 20b.
Here, people can come together, exchange ideas, and develop them collaboratively.
It is particularly important to the city that people who have had few opportunities to get involved in the past can also participate. This includes, for example, people with disabilities, older adults, newcomers to Hilden, and people with a migration background.
Because Hilden is diverse. This diversity should be visible and bring people together.

Working together for a Hilden worth living in

HeimatWerkstatt is supported by many partners. These include, among others, the Advisory Council for People with Disabilities and the Senior Citizens’ Advisory Council, the Youth Parliament, the Office for Gender Equality, the Adult Education Center, the Music School, the City Library, clubs, initiatives, and neighborhood centers.
This creates a network where diverse people and perspectives come together.
A sense of home is created where people talk to one another, listen to one another, and make a difference together.

 Upcoming Events

Would you like to meet new people, get creative, cook together, or just have a good time? Then come on by!

September 2026

Saturday, September 5 | 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
🥐 Group brunch
Enjoy breakfast together, strike up a conversation, and meet new people.

Monday, September 7 | 5:00–7:00 p.m.
🌸 Creative Workshop: Making Pipe Cleaner Flowers
Let’s get creative together and make beautiful flowers out of pipe cleaners.

Monday, September 14 | 5–7 p.m.
🪡 Sewing Circle: Sewing Together
Sew, get creative, and strike up a conversation with others.

Monday, September 21,
🎨 Creative Workshop: Let your creativity run wild
Try things out, get creative, and bring your own ideas to life.

Monday, September 28 | 5–7 p.m.
🪡 Sewing Circle: Sewing Together
Let's sew, create, and chat together.

October 2026

Saturday, October 3 | 12:00–3:00 p.m.
👩‍🍳 Cooking Showdown / Cooking Challenge
Cook together, experiment, and find out who has the best cooking idea.

Monday, October 5 | 5:00–7:00 p.m.
🪡 Sewing Circle: Sewing Together
Sew, get creative, and strike up a conversation with one another.

Monday, October 12 | 5:00–7:00 p.m.
🧘 Yoga Workshop
Let’s move, relax, and do something for our own well-being together.

Monday, October 19 | 5–7 p.m.
🎨 Creative Workshop
Let’s get creative together and try out new ideas.

Monday, October 26 | 5–7 p.m.
🪡 Sewing Circle: Sewing Together
Sew, create, and chat together.

All activities are open to everyone. No prior experience is necessary. Everyone is welcome.

Registration and further information:
Email: behindertenbeirat@hilden.de