Kita Salut is now welcoming guests!
Concrete Details Unveiled for Kita Salut, Cross-Border Kindergarten
Get ready for a game-changer in the SaarMoselle region! On Sept 1, 2023, Uwe CONRADT, the Saarbrücken Mayor, and Roland ROTH, CASC President, along with key officials, presented Kita Salut - the first cross-border, bilingual, and bicultural childcare facility. Slated to open on Sept 6, 2023, this innovative project is a fruit of a financial and operational partnership between Saarbrücken and CASC, accommodating 133 children from 0 to 6.
The crèche area, developed under the Interreg V A Greater Region project "Babylingua", financed by the European Union and led by the Eurodistrict SaarMoselle, offers 33 slots for Saarland and Francophone kids alike. This cutting-edge kindergarten is a beacon aimed at bolstering the existing bilingual offer in the region while augmenting the reception capacity of the territorial authorities.
You might be wondering what's the purpose behind it? Besides the intercultural integration of border-crossers and families interested in bilingual upbringing for their children, this project seeks to create a modern, eco-friendly facility located near Saargemünd, home to around 20 pedagogical pros who will induce language acquisition and community living, leveraging pedagogical knowledge and experience from both France and Germany.
The staff has been entrusted with the task of developing the pedagogical project of the establishment, meeting the intercultural values they wish to instill, and learning from pedagogical framework concepts from both nations. To promote a sense of group cohesion and cultural understanding, staff hired under the same salary conditions will participate in professional seminars on intercultural communication.
As a symbol of seamless collaboration, Kita Salut also serves as a testing ground for the "Tandem-places" system. This unique approach will allow multiple children to occupy a single spot, unlike Saarland’s norm, based on French system principles, which is expected to be adjusted according to the families' needs. Kita Salut is a testament to cultural and linguistic integration in a dynamic cross-border region, functioning as both a living and working space for at least 20 years.
Now let's dive into the finances: The total investment is approximately 10 million euros. CASC has contributed 650,000 euros, with the European Fund for Regional Development investing nearly 2.3 million euros. The remaining costs will be covered by the city of Saarbrücken, the Saarland Ministry of Education and Culture, and the Regionalverband Saarbrücken. The operating costs will be divided according to the number of occupied spots. The French family allowance office of the Moselle department (Caisse d'Allocation Familiale de Moselle) has been approached for financial participation.
In essence, this project is a beacon of cross-border cooperation, promoting cultural exchange, bilingualism, and community integration. More details about Kita Salut may be obtained from local educational authorities or organizations involved in cross-border initiatives in the Saar-Moselle region. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting endeavor!
The financial investment for Kita Salut, the cross-border kindergarten, amounts to approximately 10 million euros, with the European Fund for Regional Development contributing nearly 2.3 million euros. This project aims to foster lifestyles centered around education-and-self-development, as it prepares children for a multicultural environment.
