Description
The project is a result of recommendations developed under Immigrant Integration Model from Gdansk. It is based on the assumption that integration requires connecting institutional and informal, social networks. Activities performed under the project include building and consolidating networks in the areas of: education, housing, social assistance, mentoring and integration organisation, aimed at self-sufficiency of refugees. The recipients of the activities are refugees and receiving community, because integration is a two-way, complex process: refugees (those present in the Gdansk area, about 30 persons, and those who will come after the end of the project), about 150 persons from educational circles, about 150 persons from social assistance (workers of MOPR, NGOs, refugee mentors), about 100 persons from the area of integration assistance (integration assistants, cultural institutions, neighbourhood centres, district councils etc.), about 100 participants of a seminar (local government members etc.).
Summary of project results
"Gdańsk, implementing the Immigrant Integration Model (MII), is a city declaring its readiness to receive refugees in Poland. The main recommendations from the work on the model concerning refugees are: granting housing, psychological support, preparation of schools for receiving refugee children, close cooperation between social assistance institutions and social networks, integration on the level of local community and easier access to information for refugees, developing a network of mentors-volunteers, strengthening of cooperation with translators, and building knowledge on problems of refugees in municipalities. The aim of the project was to prepare local communities to receive and integrate refugees through developing local cooperation networks and training their members. As a result of implementation of the project, thematic networks were created: education, housing, integration organisers group, team of refugee mentors, team for teaching Polish language, base of translators. A team of trainers was created who conducted 10 intercultural competency trainings for 116 persons from over 80 education institutions and municipal police. Databases were built on availability of housing, translations, local resources in city districts, and information booklet was prepared. The network of refugee mentors was strengthened - a training on psychological effects of being a refugee was conducted (36 persons) and on teaching Polish as a foreign language (24 persons, of which nine persons has already started teaching). A strategic workshop was organised supporting cooperation between mentors, non-governmental organisations and social assistance institutions. In Gdynia and Sopot teams for integration of refugees and immigrants were created, and representatives of many municipalities took part in a seminar ""Refugees - a systemic challenge for local government"". A network of local integration organisers was created on the level of local communities (6 persons). The main recipients of the project activities were members of municipal institutions, social networks performing activities for refugees, and refugees themselves who took part in Polish language courses (in all over 300 persons). The Gdańsk Foundation of Social Innovation was responsible for creating networks of local integration organisers. The Artistic and Social Association ""Feeria"" supported organising integration assistants and building the network of mentors."
Summary of bilateral results