Women strengthen women: integration and empowerment in Vienna

Women strengthen women: integration and empowerment in Vienna

Wien, Österreich - in Vienna is happening: the club Neighboring has been involved in integration work for refugee women for years. Through the personal commitment of women with their own migration experience, newly arrived women receive valuable support for taping a foot in Austria. The multilingual and everyday care is carried out by social assistants who have five different mother tongues. These women serve not only as supervisors, but also as role models.

On June 3, a press date took place in the association's sewing workshop, which not only presented the produced products, but also put the commitment of the employees in the foreground. Women are usually looked after over a period of six to twelve months, whereby the social assistants act directly in the families at home. Firdes Acar, a long -time employee, brings valuable insights through her own experience and provides help in everyday topics such as the Austrian school system or healthcare.

an example of integration

A success story that should not be left unmentioned is that of a woman who finally took the step into working life after twenty years at home and is now working as a kitchen aid in a kindergarten. Many women who receive support from the association come from difficult conditions and have often left violent partners behind. In view of the shortage of labor in Austria, the association shows the importance of integration not only for the women concerned, but also for society as a whole.

sewing workshop and workshops

Another mainstay of the association is the sewing workshop, which has been producing "upcycling products" from fabric remains for eight years. This not only spares resources, but jobs are also created. Seven seamstresses are currently employed and the association offers internships for twelve women from caredy families. In 2023, the sewing workshop was able to generate sales of 136,956 euros, which underlines the enormous performance of the association.

From autumn 2025, the new project "Ms..Macht.recht" , which aims to make it easier for women to access democracy. In five workshops, 75 women from various communities are specifically trained. The aim is to make them fit for active participation in society. The results of these workshops will be presented at a large final event in November, in which Women's Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner will appear as a guest of honor. This shows not only the commitment of the association, but also the relevance of the topic of democracy, which is particularly important for schoolchildren aged 16 and over, as a recently carried out workshop at a school under the direction of Alina Koller and Sophie Gatschnegg.

Integration in an international context

The challenges of the integration of migrants are not only locally, but also have international dimensions. A recent study by Bamf According to life, around 3,2 million third-state women who are strongly dependent on integration alone. It turns out that high recognition requirements for qualifications and lack of childcare opportunities are often a hurdle. The integration of women from different cultures and backgrounds is therefore an important topic that must be addressed not only on political, but also at the social level.

The initiatives of the “Neighboring” association not only help individually, but also made an important contribution to social participation and integration in Austria. The value of such projects is priceless, not only for women themselves, but also for society.