Selters (Westerwald): Commitment to Community Cohesion – Passing the Baton in the Neighborhood Project
Selters (Westerwald) – After three years of intensive and impactful work, Selim Özen is stepping down from the city’s neighborhood project. Together with his colleague Angela Schmitz-Buchholz, who oversees senior citizen services, the experienced social worker has played a key role in fostering lasting intergenerational and intercultural cooperation.
During his tenure, numerous events and community-building initiatives were launched to foster dialogue among residents. Of particular note is the “Integration Roundtable,” which has become a permanent fixture. Here, challenges are systematically analyzed in collaboration with various community groups, and solutions are developed. His participation in political bodies, particularly the City Council, was also a key component of his commitment.
The city of Selters is characterized by cultural diversity: About 20 percent of the population has a migrant background, and people from over 40 nations live here together—including approximately 400 people with Turkish roots. This diverse coexistence formed a central focus of neighborhood work. The goal was to create opportunities for interaction and actively promote dialogue between people of different origins.
A special focus was placed on further developing a culture of welcome in practice. New residents should feel welcome and accepted in Selters, regardless of their background. At the same time, efforts were made to specifically reach out to and involve people with a migrant background.
“When help is provided in a concrete way, background doesn’t matter,” emphasizes Selim Özen. His approach has always been to make integration tangible through personal encounters, exchange programs, and targeted youth work, thereby strengthening coexistence in the city in a sustainable way.
On April 1, his successor, Michael Voss, will take over the role in neighborhood management. As a native of Selters, he will continue the established structures and further develop them together with local institutions and residents. The goal remains an open, vibrant, and supportive urban community.
The neighborhood management position—as well as the senior citizens’ services division—will be funded by the German Aid Foundation (Stiftung Deutsches Hilfswerk) through the end of 2027. The local contact person will be Michael Voss at the “Treff am Markt” neighborhood management office. Source: City of Selters (Westerwald)