Hola Kita!

With the "Hola Kita!" project, the Hanover region is addressing the acute shortage of skilled workers in childcare: young, unemployed Spanish graduates of the "Grado en Educación Infantil" or "Maestro en Educación Infantil" degree programs are given the opportunity to gain a foothold in Germany as educational professionals.

Background: Shortage of skilled workers in childcare

The Hanover region is facing a major challenge: the shortage of educational professionals in childcare facilities (Kitas) is becoming increasingly acute. At the same time, there are many young, well-trained educators in Spain with degrees in "Grado en Educación Infantil" or "Maestro en Educación Infantil" who are unemployed despite their qualifications. This is where the "Hola Kita!" project comes in – with an innovative approach to securing skilled workers and enriching the daycare landscape interculturally.

The aim of the

Hola Kita!" aims to attract Spanish professionals with a university degree in education to the German labor market and gradually integrate them into the German childcare system.

To this end, participants undergo the following process:

  1. Partial recognition as social education assistants
    Spanish qualifications are initially recognized as "social education assistant," allowing skilled workers to work directly in a daycare center.
  2. In-service further training
    While working in the daycare center, participants complete an adaptation course that prepares them for full recognition as state-approved educators.
  3. Full recognition and long-term commitment to the regional labor market
    After successfully completing their qualification, the professionals are available to daycare centers in the Hanover region as fully-fledged educators, thus making a lasting contribution to securing and improving the quality of care.

Benefits for all involved

For Spanish professionals:

  • Career prospects in Germany
  • Recognition of qualifications and opportunities for further professional development
  • Practical experience in German daycare centers with accompanying further training
  • Intercultural exchange and personal development

For daycare centers in the Hanover region:

  • Recruitment of motivated, qualified professionals to alleviate the shortage of skilled workers
  • Intercultural enrichment through Spanish educators with new ideas for educational work
  • Long-term staff retention through full recognition as an educator
  • Support for integration through structured project support

For the Hanover region:

  • Sustainable solution to the shortage of skilled workers in childcare
  • Strengthening the region's attractiveness as an employer through innovative approaches
  • Promotion of diversity and intercultural learning in daycare centers
  • European networking through cooperation with Spanish educational institutions

Project partners

  • BBS Vocational Schools Neustadt a. Rbge.
  • Federal Employment Agency
  • Municipality of Isernhagen
  • ISK Hannover
  • Lower Saxony Ministry of Culture
  • Hanover Region – Education and Culture Department
  • RLSB Lüneburg
  • City of Garbsen
  • City of Laatzen

The project is being carried out by Caritasverband Hannover e.V.

The Hanover region is a strategic partner through its Department of Economic and Employment Promotion (
) and provides proportional funding for the project.

 

Contact

Hanover Region
Project coordination
Leena Wilke
Project coordination
Hanover Region
Employment Promotion
Department of Economic and Employment Promotion
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