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Description
Despite the strong need for inclusion and connection, the unemployment rate among immigrants in Slovenia is quite above than average. With many perceived obstacles (language, discrimination, lack of knowledge about the individual’s rights etc) the choice of techniques that would foster the sense of belonging to new environments seem to be scarce.
Terra Vera NGO is an active member of Migrantour network of intercultural walks lead by migrants and refugees, connecting numerous cities across Europe. Through participatory processes of co-creation, we help activate immigrants and refugees to take the role of intercultural companions. In the first phase of the project, we will train a new generation of intercultural companions and animators (with ''first generation'' guides taking the role of mentors and tutors), upgrading the existing offer with the ''Intercultural Experiences'' program and a new itinerary that will take into account current migration trends. Following the example of Scandinavian practices and in cooperation with our partners, Oloop, we will include elements of craftsmanship and design in the ''Experiences''. We will highlight the role of immigrants as the main providers of intercultural experiences and interpreters of diverse cultural heritages that influence local environments and have great potential in the field of responsible, carbon-free tourism. In this way, we will develop realistic opportunities for employment of the migrants. In the second phase of the project, we will carry out 10 Intercultural experiences for a selected target group of public sector professionals (with the aim of increasing awareness of (inter)cultural contexts) and 5 Welcome experiences for asylum seekers - newcomers. The focus of the project will be on the content as well as on the development/implementation of marketing and communication strategies that will ensure the sustainability and longevity of the project.
Summary of project results
The project addressed the barriers to social and economic integration faced by immigrants and refugees, with a particular focus on culture, through the creation of guided city walks and handicrafts.
We included 30 participants from Turkey, Ukraine, Poland, Kazakhstan, Venezuela and Peru in the project. We designed two different training packages, one in the field of handicrafts and the other in the field of designing an intercultural walk. Each package contained several different activities. In a later phase of the project, we also included the participants who showed the most interest as equal partners. They acted as mentors of handicraft workshops and intercultural guides.
We strengthen the social and economic inclusion of immigrants in the role of guides and animators of Migrantour Intercultural Experiences: 12 new guides, 5 new mentors. We contribute to raising awareness among professionals and the general public about the positive impact of migration on cultural heritage and the contemporary social context in urban (and rural) environments: more than 165 participants within intercultural guided tours. We develop effective digital educational tools on the impact of migration on the cultural heritage of local environments-
Summary of bilateral results
Within bilateral cooperatio was organized a training in the field of storytelling, theatre pedagogy and inclusion of vulnerable groups by OsloMet.