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Connecting institutional and social networks for integration of refugees

Combating discrimination Completed
pomorskie
Gdynia
"Feeria" Association, Sopot, Poland
2016-01-04 - 2016-04-30
171 747,78 PLN
153 380,78 PLN
refugees and migrants, local policies
Project description
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.