The motto for the European Cultural Capital 2016 is "Wrocław - the city of encounters". But in practice, the city undertakes no real activities to show that it is open for receiving refugees. That is why in September 2015 a group of non-governmental organisations and social activists was created - the Coalition Wrocław Welcomes Refugees (WWU).
The project aimed at strengthening and broadening the Coalition activities through supplying its members with new competencies and preparing trained group of assistants for work with refugees, as well as increasing the Coalition's influence on city policies.
Knowledge and competencies of the members of the WWU Coalition were increased by their participation in 5 trainings, 2 events organised in Dolny Śląsk region to propagate the ideas of WWU Coalition, broadening the cooperation network with the Coalition Dresden für Alle, 3 study visits in Dresden, and a visit in Wrocław of representatives of various assistance groups from Dresden. Tools to make the WWU Coalition more efficient were developed and implemented: an Internet platform with a map of places refugees friendly, "Information guide for intercultural assistants" for activists working with refugees, and an information booklet in four languages (Polish, Ukrainian, English and Arabic) presenting WWU Coalition and necessary information for migrants and refugees residing in Wrocław. Cooperation platform between local authorities and non-governmental groups was strengthened through organising of 5 meetings and trainings for the Social Dialogue Group, conducting and presenting surveys on threats that can locally occur when receiving refugees, and organising a meeting with experts from Dresden under the Social Dialogue Group. 12 events in the city were organised or co-organised for various groups in order to highlight the problem of refugees and initiate a friendly discourse in this field.
The recipients of the project activities were mainly non-governmental organisations participating in the Coalition, and municipal officers from Wrocław. The project was implemented in partnership with the Foundation Kaleidoscope of Cultures, responsible for education activities to support and broaden the WWU Coalition, the Foundation for European Studies (FEPS), coordinating the development of the Social Dialogue Group and social surveys, and the Muslim Cultural and Educational Centre, offering expert support for the project activities.