Münster's Swimming Initiative Helps Refugees Build Safety and Community
One of the project partners is SwimSportTank e.V., a Münster-based association that, as part of the pilot initiative, offers swimming courses for residents of the facility. This aspect of the diverse program has proven particularly popular among participants. This week, a course for adult men currently living in the ZUE Münster took place at the indoor pool in Münster-Roxel.
The ability to swim can be a lifesaving skill—far from a given for many. In swimming classes for refugee children and adolescents, women, and adult men, instructors like Anke Sundermeier of SwimSportTank e.V. teach this essential skill and understand its critical importance. "Being able to swim is no longer taken for granted, even here in Germany," says Sundermeier, a certified swimming instructor. "For people with refugee backgrounds, it's often even less so. That's why we're proud to be a project partner in the Integration Pilot Project at ZUE Münster and grateful for the opportunity to share our practical expertise." A standout feature of the association is its intercultural team of instructors, who collectively cover most of the participants' native languages.
The chance to learn to swim has sparked strong interest among participants of all ages. Courses are consistently well attended, and attendees—not only aware of how vital swimming is—approach the lessons with great enthusiasm, as reported by SwimSportTank's volunteer team.
The city of Münster also played a key role in making these courses possible by temporarily providing the indoor pool in Roxel. Kerstin Dewaldt, head of the municipal sports office, emphasizes: "Over the past 14 years, Münster's participation in the state initiative 'NRW Can Swim!'—made possible through successful collaboration between the sports office and dedicated swimming clubs—has enabled more than 5,000 fourth- and fifth-graders to learn to swim and improve their skills. Expanding this offering to include refugees is a crucial step, particularly for preventing drowning incidents. Integration through sport also fosters a successful arrival in their new environment."
Financial support for the swimming courses was provided by Sparkasse Münsterland Ost. "Giving people perspective is a priority for us, and learning to swim is one such building block," says Mechtild Pieper, a board member of the bank. "That's why we were happy to support this important measure as part of our collaboration on the Integration Pilot Project."
Stefan Centeno Hüttemann, the district government official responsible for housing and supporting refugees—and co-lead of the pilot project—expressed gratitude to all involved: "For us, as the Bezirksregierung and operator of ZUE Münster, the success of the Integration Pilot Project and its components is of great importance for our residents. We rely entirely on our partners to achieve this. In this case, we're deeply grateful to SwimSportTank, the city of Münster, and Sparkasse Münsterland Ost for their outstanding cooperation."
