Association economy for integration
The Business Association for Integration (VWFI) is an Austrian business association based in Vienna. The association sees immigration and integration as an opportunity for Austria and the Austrian economy and is committed in both areas according to the principle of “demanding and promoting”. As part of its activities and projects, which are supported by various commercial enterprises, the association pursues a potential-oriented approach.
Foundation and association structure
The association was founded in March 2009 by Georg Kraft-Kinz , Deputy General Director. the Raiffeisenlandesbank Niederösterreich-Wien (RLB NÖ-Wien), and the Viennese entrepreneur Ali Rahimi , who was born in Teheran . The two act as chairman or, like Johannes Schuster, as deputy chairman of the association. Meri Disoski was the managing director from 2012 to 2017 . Secretary General is Peter Wesely. Large, internationally active Austrian companies such as Austrian Lotteries , Porr , Novomatic , Rewe and Uniqa are also represented on the board of the association .
The Mayor of Vienna Michael Häupl and the former Raiffeisen Attorney General Christian Konrad act as patrons . Vienna's Vice Mayor Renate Brauner , WKW President Walter Ruck , SWV President Fritz Strobl and Erwin Hameseder , General Director of Raiffeisen Holding and General Director of RLB NÖ-Wien, form the Honorary Committee. There are also collaborations and project partnerships with the Federation of Industry , the Vienna Chamber of Commerce , the Vienna Business Agency , the Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs and the Vienna City Councilor for Integration .
The association's operational team currently consists of four employees (as of 2013). RLB NÖ-Wien is the founding and main sponsor of Business for Integration.
Mission statement and goals
The VWFI considers the integration of people from different countries and cultures in Austria to be essential and a great opportunity for the country. The association sees immigration as a reality and a necessity for the further development of Austria.
The aim of the association is to deal with the issues of immigration and integration in a new and constructive way. In doing so, he pursues a potential-oriented approach. In addition, the association sees itself as a driving force for business, politics and society as well as an intermediary between potential sponsors and initiatives for integration.
Main topics and projects
The association realizes independent projects and supports projects and initiatives that share its positive view of integration. The activities of the association at the project level can be divided into three areas: education and linguistic competence, information and awareness-raising as well as equal opportunities and the labor market.
Projects
Multilingual speech contest "Say's Multi"
Since 2009 the association has organized the multilingual speech contest “Sag's Multi” every year. A feature of “Sag's Multi” is that the students switch between German and another language in their speeches. According to the association, “Sag's Multi” is unique in the German-speaking region. The aim of the speech competition is to make the potential of multilingualism visible and to promote or reward the achievements and skills of young people, especially from immigrant families, in the form of prizes. Since the 2014/15 school year, young people who do not grow up bilingual but who still speak more than one language have been invited to participate.
“Konnex” - sponsors for young people with a history of migration
“KONNEX” was launched as a follow-up project to the “Sag's Multi” speech contest. With this program, young people with a migration background are accompanied over a longer period of time by sponsors from the fields of business, art and culture, media and the like and supported in their professional and training orientation. The program is supplemented by joint events and workshops for all young people.
Forum Economy in the Center (WiZ)
As part of the Forum Wirtschaft im Zentrum (WiZ), the VWFI regularly invites people from business, politics, culture and the media to discussions in the Looshaus in Vienna. The aim is to discuss integration from an economic perspective, to give and receive impulses and to build networks and contacts.
VWFI mobility grant
The Verein Wirtschaft für Integration donates so-called mobility grants for students of the Vienna University of Economics and Business who come from low-income families, in order to enable them to do research abroad as part of their thesis and thus to contribute to the internationalization and strengthening of Vienna as a location for science.
The fivers come to you
The handball team Fivers WAT Margareten organizes the event "The Fivers come to you" once a year in the Hochhauspark in the 5th district of Vienna. Over 100 children and young people, many of them from socio-economically disadvantaged or immigrant families, come together. Playing handball and barbecuing together with the players not only promotes fun in movement, but also promotes the integrative aspect of sport. The VWFI made the project possible through a major donor. The event is carried out in cooperation with the Margareten park supervision, the Margareten youth center, the district council and the “Back on Stage” association (Association of Vienna Youth Centers).
Completed Projects
Viennese courage: diversity finds the city!
“Viennese Courage: Diversity Finds City!” Is a joint initiative of the VWFI, the ORF -Landesstudios Wien and the Austrian economy. The award honors Viennese with and without international roots who make the diversity in Vienna visible and tangible. A jury of experts selects the winners in six categories, who are honored at a festive award ceremony and then portrayed by the ORF regional studio in Vienna. With “Wiener Mut”, the “Prize of Viennese Diversity”, which was awarded in 2013, will be continued under a new name.
ACTION365PLUS
The AKTION365PLUS promoted the implementation of project ideas and the creation of products that contribute to the cultural diversity make in Austria. The campaign was based on the idea that 365 people, companies and institutions support a fund for the promotion of small projects with their donation.
Austrian Integration Day (ÖIT)
The ÖIT was organized three times by the VWFI in cooperation with the Federation of Industry, the City of Vienna and the Austrian Lotteries and networked committed people from civil society, politics, media and business in a one-day conference. The focus was on networking, the exchange of information between various interest groups and the development of common concepts.
Austrian integration award
Together with ORF, the association has twice awarded the Austrian Integration Prize for committed people and exemplary projects.
Coca-Cola "Christian Ludwig Attersee Christmas Edition"
On the initiative of Wirtschaft für Integration, Coca-Cola sold beverage cans in a special design in the run-up to Christmas that were designed by the artist Christian Ludwig Attersee . Coca-Cola only offers such special editions in special cases. In doing so, the group supported the expansion of the multilingual speech competition “Sag's Multi” 2012/13 to the federal states.
Charter talks
As a partner organization, the Business for Integration Association supported the public participation project “ Vienna Charter ” initiated by the Vienna city government . Its aim is to develop principles and rules for a good coexistence. The VWFI is holding two charter talks in cooperation with the Vienna Business Agency , the Vienna Chamber of Commerce , NOVOMATIC AG and the State Secretariat for Integration .
financing
The association's infrastructure is sponsored by RLB NÖ-Wien. The association's projects are financed by companies, RLB NÖ-Wien and project-related membership fees. Sponsors include Uniqa, Porr , Coca-Cola , the Mann bakery, Austrian Lotteries, Wien Holding , Siemens AG Austria , Mc Donald’s , Samsung , HINK , Novomatic and ARA .
Web links
swell
- ↑ a b c VWFI - About us
- ↑ VWFI projects
- ↑ Multilingual speech contest "SAG'S MULTI!"
- ↑ "KONNEX"
- ↑ Forum Economy in the Center (WiZ)
- ↑ VWFI mobility grant. In: vwfi.at. Retrieved May 23, 2019 .
- ^ Website of Wiener Mut: Diversity finds the city
- ^ Website of the Vienna Diversity Prize
- ↑ ACTION365PLUS. In: iz.or.at. Retrieved October 26, 2019 .
- ^ Website for the Austrian Integration Day