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Description
A number of serious studies show that migrants and refugees have faced great stigmatization in the last 5 years in Bulgaria and these groups are often among the most vulnerable targets of hate speech. Migrants are usually present in the media as a target of the rhetoric of far right political parties, as an amorphous mass associated with crime, fear and trouble. Migrants with Talents is a long-term media campaign aiming to overcome negative stereotypes against migrants and refugees in Bulgaria. What is more, the campaign places in the limelight their unique talents, strengths, contribution to the country and empowers them to show up in public with their voice and signature talents. The campaign aims at “normalizing” their presence in society in the field of arts, cuisine, business, sports, beauty, travels, lifestyle, etc. and with the help of more than 30 media partners and 360 publications across the country reach the broadest possible audience with the message: migrants are talented. The project is a natural follow-up of the 8-year work of Multi Kulti including in the area of media campaigns to support diversity by relying on a two-sided approach: media publications and live events across the country. Supported by attractive elements of popular TV formats, our campaign plans to cooperate closely with a number of media by providing them with professional communication materials developed by media practitioners, students of journalism and migrants and refugees themselves (text, photo, video, audio, illustrations) as well as by connecting the media with appropriate migrants (for TV and radio). The project will benefit migrants and refugees who will be able to become the subject of attention and demonstrate their talents, the media that will get fresh good-quality content and the general public which will be enriched through media publications and live evets.
Summary of project results
The Migrants Got Talent project addressed problems in Bulgarian society such as xenophobia, discrimination, racism, hate speech, social exclusion, stigmatization of migrants and refugees. A number of national and European studies in the last 10 years demonstrate that the levels of integration of foreigners in Bulgaria are among the lowest in the EU, and also that migrants are among the most frequent victims of hate speech. This determines the need for focused efforts of civil society in this direction.
1) A national communication strategy was created. It became the bases of establishing sustainable media partnerships with over 20 media (Bulgarian National Television, Bulgarian National Radio, large private TV channels, large private radio stations, large national newspapers, magazines, online media and a number of specialized media). As a result of these partnerships, over 416 media materials were created that showcased the talents of migrants from all over the world. They were seen by millions of people, thereby overcoming a number of prejudices. At the same time, foreigners received media attention to talk about themselves and their activities.
2) Real human connections were created between 3,511 people who participated in 136 community and cultural events in a number of Bulgarian cities hosted by talented migrants – art workshops, dance workshops, culinary courses, concerts, historical lectures, exhibitions, workshops on cocktails, inspirational talks, personal development seminars, theater workshops, literary readings, holiday celebrations, ceremonies, human library and more. In this way, a number of prejudices were once again overcome.
3) Increased the capacity of 10 NGOs from the country to work on the empowerment of migrants at the local level.
4) Increased the capacity of nearly 50 young people to work with migrants – students of journalism, ethnology, etc., thanks to a partnership with Sofia University.
5) The Multi Kulti Map, which shows foreign establishments, was also updated, thus creating a positive interest in foreign cuisines and cultures.
6) A professional show Migrants Got Talent was also organized. It hosted 20 artists from 10 countries and over 200 participants.
The project normalized the participation of migrants in public life and highlighted the contribution they make in Bulgaria, thereby making efforts to reduce stigmatization and hate speech. The project empowered hundreds of foreigners to host 136 events in Bulgaria, as well as participate in 416 media materials, where they demonstrated their talents and spoke about the topics that are important to them. The project has established stable media partnerships with over 20 leading media and thus increased diversity in the media environment. It also increased the capacity of 10 NGOs in the country and trained 50 young people in various activities related to working with migrants.
In addition to this:
- The project received the grand prize Human of the Year 2022 of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee.
- The project also received the Agent of Change 2022 award in the JAMBA Communicator of the Year category.
- Two of the most active volunteers on the project – Hanna Velykova from Ukraine and Mahsa Nouraei from Iran received the national Volunteer of the Year award in two consecutive years – 2022 and 2023.
- The project received second prize in the annual awards of the Bulgarian NGO portal for Most Read News.