Intercultural evenings: Offenbach and Hanau celebrate variety and dialogue!

Intercultural evenings: Offenbach and Hanau celebrate variety and dialogue!

As part of the nationwide "Intercultural Week", the police headquarters Southeasthessen organized two significant intercultural evenings in Offenbach and Hanau, which met with lively interest. Over 100 guests, including representatives of foreigners and integration centers, took part in these evenings. The aim of these events was to promote the exchange between the police and civil society.

These meetings, which have been taking place in 2001 since their introduction, offer participants the opportunity to discuss current social issues in an open and respectful dialogue. The guests acted as important bridge builders who strengthen the connections within the diverse society.

insight into the events

The first intercultural evening took place on September 27, 2024 in the Offenbach police headquarters. After the greeting by the police commissioners Abdullah Yigit, Ioannis Michos and police chief Thomas Stenger, Semra Kanisicak, head of the integration specialist service, took over the moderation of the evening. In his opening speech, Marc Sachs, head of the Staff area for Prevention, emphasized the essential role of such events in prevention work.

The singer Chaymaa Rafoud, supported by keyboard player Nana Ampadu, offered a musical highlight, which enriched the atmosphere of the event. Another important element was the keynote speech by Prof. Dr. Murad Erdemir, director of the Hesse State Media Center. He spoke about the challenges of the media, in particular the fight against hatred and misinformation on the Internet, and emphasized the importance of media literacy in order to guarantee equal participation in society.

The second intercultural evening took place on October 11, 2024 in the Hanau-Steinheim cultural hall. Here Prof. Dr. Erdemir again the audience with his contribution to the role of the media institution and the responsibility of the media in society. Police President Daniel Muth and Dr. Maximilian Bieri, Mayor of Hanau, addressed greetings to those present and underlined the value of the dialogue between the population and the police.

According to the official program items, the participants had the opportunity to exchange ideas personally and make networks. The significant increase in the number of participants on both evenings shows the grown interest in an active and open dialogue, which is seen as the key to trusting coexistence in society. The intercultural evenings have established themselves as a proven format for prevention work.

These intercultural evenings are not only a sign of the commitment of the police, but also a platform to reduce prejudices and create a better understanding with each other. The "New Rooms" initiative is of particular importance, since this form of cooperation between the police and civil society is unique in Hesse and nationwide. Their success shows how important the promotion of coexistence and the share of experiences are to shape a harmonious society.