SEN-CIT: The sensitization of citizens in the field of immigrants’ and refugees’ inclusion to the hosting society (Exchange of good practices in adult education) Erasmus Project

Project Title

SEN-CIT: The sensitization of citizens in the field of immigrants’ and refugees’ inclusion to the hosting society (Exchange of good practices in adult education)

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Migrants’ issues; Integration of refugees; Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

The integration of migrants into host societies is one of the greatest challenges and priorities of EU Member States. The rapidly growing influx of refugees from war-torn countries over the past decade has exacerbated integration and inclusion challenges in most EU Member States and tested the capacity of local infrastructure and service delivery agencies. There is a growing fear in host countries that the situation is getting out of control, while mistrust and hostility between the host society and third-country nationals is increasing.
Community-based partner organisations providing services to migrants and refugees saw the need for a project that could act as a catalyst to sensitise local and migrant/refugee communities to remove prejudice and mistrust and create opportunities for intercultural exchange, cooperation and interaction.
The specific objectives of the project were:
– Capacity building of educators, professionals and volunteers in the field of migrant/refugee integration in local communities through exchange of best practices from partner regions.
– Development and piloting of sensitisation methods and tools in the partner regions.
– Organising events and forums to build awareness of the migrant/refugee integration process in each participating country, inviting members of migrant and refugee communities.
The project provided direct engagement and training for at least 60 educators, facilitators and professionals involved in migrant/refugee integration activities at local level.
The activities that were undertaken were:
– Development and piloting of sensitisation methods and tools in participating countries: Training activities for partner staff and volunteers to transfer knowledge, new sensitisation methods, learning tools. Integrating them into the partner’s educational practice.
– Organising events and forums to build awareness about the integration process of migrants/refugees in each participating country, inviting migrants and refugees.
The methodological choices of the partnership reflected the multidimensional nature of the project and its innovation-seeking component, in particular: a) an “action research” methodology accompanied by piloting and evaluation of results, b) motivating and empowerment-oriented methods for professionals in the field of migrant/refugee integration, c) ongoing learning, presenting and sharing knowledge, tools and good practices during training sessions and public forums.
The results produced by the project implementation are:
– Review of best practices and methodologies from the participating regions on community sensitisation on integration of immigrants and refugees.
– Development and piloting of sensitisation methods and tools in the project partner regions.
– Exchange of good practices on community sensitisation on integration of immigrants and refugees in the host society during international meetings, trainings, study visits and forums. The forums and study visits included migrants and refugees.
The results were compiled in a guide entitled: “SEN-CIT. Inspirational Guide’, available on the project website: https://www.sencitproject.eu/
Link to download the guide: https://www.sencitproject.eu/assets/files/SEN-CIT-inspirationalguide-3.pdf
The dissemination of the project scope, activities and products consisted in reaching out to target groups and stakeholders, through local events, but also through the use of the project website, as well as links to the websites of partners and other partner organisations.
The project implementation had a positive impact in the following areas:
– Empowering the educators who attended the training sessions with valuable community sensitisation skills
– Sensitisation of local host communities as well as migrants and refugees on inclusion processes, e.g. acceptance of cultural diversity, understanding of needs, service provision, etc.
– To sensitise stakeholders who can promote the products and results of the SENCIT project or replicate such activities on their own.

Project Website

http://sencitproject.eu

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 42718,18 Eur

Project Coordinator

Fundacja Ad Meritum & Country: PL

Project Partners

• Vormingplus Limburg
• IDRIMA PROOTHISIS ISOTITAS IPATIA