Second regional multi-stakeholder cooperation platform for migrant and refugee integration in Mazovia
The regional platform is set up in the framework of the Share SIRA project, our European project co-funded by the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, which aims at strengthening and expanding the social orientation and overall integration of newcomers in rural territories in Europe. Besides the Province of Mazovia, regional multi-stakeholder cooperation platforms have also been set up in 9 other rural regions in Europe. Click here to find out more about these regions!
On 26 June 2021, IOM Poland, in cooperation with ICMC Europe (lead of the SHARE Network), organized the second roundtable of the regional multi-stakeholder cooperation platform for migrant and refugee integration in the Province of Mazovia, Poland.
16 stakeholders joined the two-hour event online to continue the conversation started by the first roundtable and explore further the experiences previously shared as well as the existing good practices in the field of migrant and refugee inclusion while discussing the upcoming pilot opportunities in the framework of the SHARE SIRA project.
For instance, participants exchanged good practices implemented by themselves or other organizations, such as after-school workshops for children with a migrant background, sport activities to facilitate interactions among all children, raising-awareness events on cultural and religious diversity and the engagement of seniors in Polish classes for migrants.
However, stakeholders agreed that these actions and initiatives could be amended to increase effectiveness and social impact, in particular with regards to:
Communication between stakeholders;
Continuity of programs and initiatives, also from a funding perspective;
Cooperation with the local community;
Training for teachers working with children with a migrant background;
Narrative about migrants and migration in Poland.
The inputs provided by participants fed into the discussion on the pilot actions for the inclusion and integration of migrants in the territory to be launched in the fall. Stakeholders brainstormed about methods to foster the participation of the local community in integration activities. Some of the ideas included:
Organization of events in local culture centers for children and their parents;
Involvement of foreigners in local activities such as sculpting, sewing, woodwork to facilitate integration through action rather than conversation;
Provision of administrative assistance by knowledgeable members of the local community;
Organization of classes and workshops to involve vulnerable groups and facilitate cultural exchange.
The stakeholders involved in the regional platforms will gather on two more occasions over the course of 2021/2022. You can find more information on the activities in Mazovia on the regional webpage.