Dresden (dpa/sn) - Saxony wants to support social cohesion with the "Social Places" program and has 23 other projects in its sights. "We are thus promoting active democracy on site. During my visits to the previously funded locations, I was able to convince myself that this funding can have a lasting positive effect on the local community," explained Social Affairs Minister Petra Köpping (SPD) on Tuesday in Dresden. The program is a great enrichment for social cohesion.
The ministry announced that citizens could become active together for their place in the "social places". Each of these places - whether it's the cultural center in Niederau, the Jakubetzstift in Wittichenau, the youth welfare station in Glauchau or the Gogelmosch-Haus in Stolpen - lives from the support of the local population. Interest in the program is unbroken. The Saxon development bank received 77 applications for this and the coming year. A part of it was presented to the advisory board of the funding program.
In 2022 - the first year of the program - Köpping visited ten projects to get his own impression of the model project. Their visits led, among other things, to a former prison in Adorf in Vogtland, to a meeting place in Sohland am Rotstein in Upper Lusatia or to an old post office in Grünhainichen in the Ore Mountains. In 2022, four million euros were available for the "Social Places". Four million euros are also planned for each year in the 2023/24 double budget.
