New citizen Haifa Jirdo: Now finally live in peace!

New citizen Haifa Jirdo: Now finally live in peace!

Herford, Deutschland - Herford. A bright smile that expresses the whole soul! On October 23, 2024, Haifa Jirdo will never forget this day. Together with her daughter, she received German citizenship and can finally live in a country that is shaped by peace. "It is worth fighting," calls the mother of two from Iraq full of joy and relief, while her children in their new homeland take root.

At an emotional naturalization ceremony in the council hall, 65 new citizens, including men, women and children, received their naturalization certificates, accompanied by a rose and the Basic Law, presented by Mayor Tim Kähler. Many of them come from the crisis regions of Syria, Iraq and Turkey. This ceremony also marks the progress that the reform of nationality law has brought since the end of June - the duration of the stay to gain German citizenship has been reduced from eight to only five years!

The new identity and hope

The celebrations were accompanied by Mayor Kähler with encouraging words. "Home is not a place, home is a feeling," he quoted Herbert Grönemeyer and underlined the meaning that this new identity has for the new citizen and her families. Haifa, who has lived in Herford since 2021, was particularly beaming. After an eventful trip from 2015 from Iraq via Berlin, Schwerin and Löhne, she finally found a place where she and her children can surely grow up. "I took over the HBB bistro in the train station. The customers are satisfied and I am happy," explains the 31-year-old.

Conference office full of options

Handan Kaya, the team coordinator of the convenient office, describes the concerns and hopes of new citizens. "Everyone has their own story," she says. With an impressive number of 109 new applications since the new law came into force, the rush has increased enormously. The concept of the service office has proven itself: with over 1,438 consultations and direct support, which shows people solutions, there is a low -threshold offer that many use. This first public naturalization ceremony was the crowning success of hard work and the tireless efforts of the entire team.