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Description
This project addresses the problem of discrimination against immigrants in Lublin. Over the last decade, the number of people from other countries has risen tenfold, and immigration has changed from being temporary to permanent. Unfortunately, local government authorities do not take measures to integrate immigrants or provide them with institutional support, which in turns puts them at risk of discrimination. Meanwhile, their minimum needs are help with healthcare, education, employment, or for instance domestic violence. In the city, a strategy is being devised for management of diversity, including an integration model for Lublin, but there is no local diagnosis serving as a factual basis for further work.Under the project, the Project Promoter will monitor the local integration system in fourteen different areas. An immigrant consultation team of several members will be set up to meet regularly and issue opinions on recommendations made during monitoring, and the proposed tools. The institutions monitored will receive a report containing recommendations, and assistance in making changes. Authorities and officials will attend four expert seminars and three study visits to cities that are an inspiration with regard to integration. 60 people – immigrants – will benefit from counselling at the local legal advice centre. The Project Promoter will also conduct two public campaigns concerning immigrants in Lublin, one at the time of the election campaign, so that integration becomes a topic of political debate.The project will primarily benefit immigrants living in Lublin. The city authorities will become more aware of the problems faced by foreigners. The immigrant community will be more visible, and its needs will be considered when city policies and the Lubelski integration model are being devised.
Summary of project results
The project responded to the problem of discrimination against migrants in Lublin. Over the past decade, the number of people coming from other countries has increased 10-fold, and migration has changed its character from temporary to permanent. After the outbreak of full-scale war in Ukraine, more than 1.4 million refugees arrived in the city in the first few weeks, some of whom stayed in the city. Unfortunately, the local government has long failed to take steps to integrate migrants, lacking a support system and a coherent, tailored integration policy. Meanwhile, migrants need support in areas such as health care, education, labor and domestic violence, for example. The city has been working on a strategy to address diversity management, including the creation of an integration model for Lublin, but lacked a local diagnosis that would provide a substantive basis for further work.
As part of the project, the Project Promoter provided monitoring of the local integration system in 14 different areas. A migration consultation group of several people was established, which met and gave opinions on the monitoring recommendations and proposed tools. The institutions that were monitored received a report with recommendations and support in implementing changes. Quite a few minor changes were able to be implemented immediately (translations, streamlining of contacts, appointment of contact persons). The monitoring and the work of the consultative group became the basis for the document "Outline for Local Integration Policies." Authorities, including male and female officials (82 people in total), took part in 4 expert seminars and 3 study visits to cities with good practices in the area of integration (to Gdansk, Wroclaw and Cracow). More than 70 people - migrants - received counseling at a local legal advice center. The grantee also conducted two social campaigns on migrants and migrant women in Lublin.
The project benefited primarily migrants living in Lublin, both those who consciously and voluntarily chose the city to live in, and others who found themselves here by accident, fleeing war or persecution from Ukraine, Belarus, Syria. Awareness of the city authorities of the difficulties faced by foreigners and foreigners has increased. At the end of 2023. The Project Promoter received assurances that the developed document would be adopted by the authorities the following year, and the City Council passed a budget for integration. The migrant community became more visible, and its needs - taken into account in the design of city policies and the Lublin model of integration.