On 9 July, Magnus Jung, Minister of Labour, Social Affairs, Women and Health, visited the GPS (Gemeinnützige Gesellschaft für Paritätische Sozialarbeit) inclusive daycare ‘Raabe’ in Saarbrücken-Burbach as part of his summer tour. He was accompanied by Rita Gindorf-Wagner and Mirco Bertucci, CEOs of Wohnungsgesellschaft Saarland (WOGE Saar), who served as local cooperation partners and owners of the daycare building.
The Minister’s summer tour began in the Burbach district – an area with major social challenges, but also strong networks and lots of local engagement. The ‘Saarbrücken-Burbach district with prospects’ project by the Ministry specifically defined an area where the themes of poverty and socially subsidised housing sit front and centre.
WOGE Saar was also included in its role as a key player in the field of subsidised housing, and referenced measures previously implemented for socially subsidised housing projects. It also presented Flammstraße – an area that is not directly part of the ‘district with prospects’, but sits right next to it. The aim is for increased investment to be made in social housing here in the coming years. The visit to the ‘Raabe’ daycare also sought to illustrate that WOGE’s commitment is not limited to creating housing space. Instead, it is also making targeted investment in district development, especially in social infrastructure and measures to increase districts’ attractiveness.
GPS’s CEO Bernadette Hiery-Spaniol and daycare director Ms. Wetzel-Serbedzija guided the twelve-person tour group through the facility’s bright spaces, providing a vivid insight into everyday educational life. The daycare takes an inclusive approach and draws on the principles of Montessori education.
It was first presented to the public in October 2019. >> Find out more
Mirco Bertucci was impressed: ‘It was an inspiring insight into a facility where inclusion and early childhood education are combined in impressive form. GPS is a vital stakeholder in Burbach and is making a major contribution to society thanks to its commitment.’
