From me to EU
FromMEtoEU is a project that aims to provide spaces and opportunities for European citizens and migrants’ communities to work together in order to build up and share a new idea of a multicultural Europe. The project is coordinated by Studio Progetto Societa Cooperativa Sociale, an italian non-profit organization based on the principles of the world cooperative movement. Asociacion Mundus is a partner of the project and it will organise local activities, involving citizens and youth with migrant background, in collaboration with the Municipality of Santa Coloma de Gramenet. The project will be developed between November 2018 and April 2020.
The context
The massive arrival of refugees from Mediterranean Sea, who are then distributed in the EU territory, under several asylum seeking programs is a situation that demands an effort from organisations and citizens in order to build up together an intercultural Europe.
The project
The idea of the project was born to make both long-term residents in Europe and refugees feel as involved as citizens, and to promote the idea that thee EU is not only a place to stay, but it is an opportunity of mutual understanding and development, to build a inclusive society.
Beside formal citizenship, there are different ways and methods to involve people in the growing up of a society. Refugee communities are an essential part of the population and they should together with the rest of local communities, contribute to the future of the society, by bringing ideas and innovative approaches to promote a multicultural Europe.
Project Phases
PHASE 1:
International training course in Belgium: citizens and representatives from partner organizations will be trained about EU history, politic system, meaning of EU citizenship, migration crisis and dynamics; combating stigmatization of migrants; learn non-formal methods on peer to peer approach.
3 local workshops in 8 countries: citizens will use storytelling as a tool to better understand each other cultures. Promote solidarity and participation. Check out Mundus' workshop in Zaragoza!
PHASE 2:
International Training Course in Spain: set strategies and criteria to research and study Citizens approach to migrant’ crisis, debating Euroscepticism; acquire competences on community research, promote opportunities for societal intercultural engagement; how to investigate common heritage among Migrants and Citizens.
50 video interviews for 8 partner countries: gathering problems and solutions on relationship among citizens and migrants, debate on the future of Europe, matching common heritage.
Local workshop: propose solutios; implementing ideas.
PHASE 3:
On-line portal: promote volunteering at union level, put up a tool to implement ideas.
One local event\country: promote the platform to share ideas and solutions to create solidarity and collaborations.
International Final Conference: debate on the future of EU, define project’s results and plan dissemination strategy.
Participants involved
- 168 (56+56+56) representatives of the involved NGOs and Municipalities will participate to the foreseen international meetings: they will be key actors to develop the project, espert in conlficlt management, story-telling, mutual help dynamics. They will organise the local activities and train local participants/volunteers using peer to peer methodology.
- 480 participants will be involved in local workshops.
- 400 video interviews to local people will be realized through the help of volunteers, partners and participants.
- 160 (at least 20/country espected) volunteer involved in the process of mutual helping once the webpage is formally working.
- 35 young people of the European Solidarity Corps will be involved in mutual aid activities.
- 8 Local event with at least 100 people each will be realized.
Methodology
The methodologies that will be used during the project will be tailored according to the participants and will focus on personal experiences and stories and mixed cultural heritage, integrating them in a wider dimension: local, European, worldwide. This will help to pinpoint common and pressing needs, overcoming barriers to build a more inclusive and equal society.
So participants will be lead through innovative techniques, like storytelling and visual/video story telling, to reflect about Union’s history, connected migrations and operating principles, thus promoting a mutual understanding (raise awareness of common history and values). The adoption of innovative methodologies will create a narrative connection, promoting empathy and solidarity through communities, consciousness of the importance of collaboration (promote peace and well-being), that will be put in practice in a operative interaction, encouraging participation as a remedy to the lack of welfare and fostering social engagement.
Participating countries
- Belgium
- Italy
- Albania
- Croatia
- Macedonia
- Poland
- Spain
- Greece
The European Commission's support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.
