About – MILAGRO

PROJECT FACTSHEET

Project acronym: MILAGRO

Full project title: MIgrants and Local communities Actively GROwing together for inclusive societies

Project duration: 2 years

Numbers of partners: 3 + 1 associated partner

Funding: This project is funded by the European Union through the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (project number: 101147104) within the CERV (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values) programme.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

In the short run, the results of the MILAGRO project will be:

(1) the training of 10-15 local intercultural mediators among the migrant target group in Siena,

(2) raising awareness about democratic competences, intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity among the local target groups,

(3) the creation of a transnational observatory on inclusive societies,

(4) the training of 20 coaches who can provide the online coaching service ‘Coaching across the continents’ to newcomers.

In the medium run, the results of the MILAGRO project will be:

(1) trained mediators, who will provideservices and training for newcomers;

(2) researchers and journalists, who will use the Observatory to collect data about inclusive societies;

(3) replication of summer camp events;

(4) the creation of Online Coaching academies in Siena and Belgrade, that will be linked to the wider Online Coaching Community.

In the long run MILAGRO strives for:

(1) the development of a forma mentis among members of the local communities centred around a form of solidarity that goes beyond charity, first assistance and satisfaction of migrants’ basic needs, to include autonomy and empowerment of migrants who have settled into their communities;

(2) a harmonious growth in terms of democratic competences of both locals and migrants;

(3) giving migrants voice and space and providing them with the tools necessary for their personal and professional development;

(4) tackling stereotypes and prejudice;

(5) reducing cultural and social distance between locals and migrants and lay the foundations for the integration process to become sustainable, this among other actions by

(6) supporting local authorities and organisations in providing coaching services to newcomers, helping them navigate challenges, and facilitate their integration into the community;

(7) this project aims to be the sparkle for similar initiatives to be taken in different parts and by different institutions of the partner countries as well as in other countries.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The current situation of migration flows towards Europe, and the issues related to the integration and inclusion of migrants inside local communities, makes urgent the need to provide tools and opportunities to empower both locals and foreigners to grow together, and build long lasting and positive relationships based on mutual understanding, respect and solidarity. For this reason the overall aim and common goal of the MILAGRO project is to promote and sustain an inclusive and culturally diverse democratic society that through solidarity, equality and equity can be achieved for everyone, and where diversity and differences among social and cultural groups are valued and used as an asset in order to respond to societal challenges, rather than seen as an obstacle.

The project activities will target both the local community and migrants (including refugees and asylum seekers) present on the territory of the different countries participating in the project: Italy, Serbia and the Netherlands. They will include: structured meetings aimed at spreading knowledge about democratic and digital competences, training and reflective activities with the goal of acquiring those competences, storytelling activities, narrative and emotional exchanges of experiences between the target groups, the execution of summer camps in the three partner locations providing recreational and relationship-building activities, dissemination actions, intercultural mediation and coaching trainings, the creation of an observatory on inclusive society, which together with other actions will guarantee project’s sustainability.

The impacts MILAGRO intends to achieve are:

(1) setting the basis for intercultural understanding and mutual respect,

(2) promoting democracy and democratic values in local communities,

(3) providing examples of good practices for solidarity actions,

(4) tackling stereotypes and prejudice thus reducing cultural and social distance between locals and migrants.