Educating for Inclusion

"<< Background >>The INCLUDATE consortium consists of partners working with migrant communities. Through their efforts, they identified a lack of tools and strategic plans to understand these communities and address inclusion and diversity. This gap highlighted the need for a project to assess the needs of migrant groups and develop actionable frameworks to meet those needs. Additionally, the project aimed to strengthen the capacity of migrant associations, empowering them as organizations. These objectives formed the basis for initiating the INCLUDATE project. During the project, partners analyzed the most pressing needs of migrant groups in five countries, enabling the creation of action plans to promote inclusive communities and cities. These plans contributed to improving migrants’ living conditions and fostering their integration into host societies. Some plans have already been partially implemented, leading to measurable benefits, such as reducing intersectional marginalization caused by ethnic discrimination and socio-economic deprivation. The project also provided partners with essential tools, skills, and capacity-building opportunities to lower barriers to participation in democratic co-creation processes at the local level.<< Objectives >>The INCLUDATE project aimed to strengthen the capacities of all partners and actively involve them in inclusive strategy development and community engagement. Our efforts focused on three key areas: conducting needs assessments through collaborative dialogue, developing inclusive community strategies, and implementing these strategies at the local level.Partners were equipped with tools to better understand their target groups. Using methodologies such as Community Mapping and Community Reporting, we identified the most pressing challenges in five cities. As a result, five organisations developed inclusion and diversity strategies (action plans) to address these issues.During the final two training sessions, we tested and refined selected tools and methods with input from stakeholders both within and outside the partnership. This process culminated in the creation of a user-friendly curriculum designed to help similar organisations understand their target groups and develop tailored strategies to address identified needs.The project improved migrants’ access to policy-making processes, while enhancing the professionalism of migrant associations and organisations supporting them.<< Implementation >>The INCLUDATE project cycle comprised five work packages, each contributing to tangible project outcomes. Activities were strategically organized and guided by key milestones, including transnational meetings, trainings, product development, and dissemination events. The project successfully achieved all planned activities as outlined in the initial application. Below is a chronological summary of the key activities:1) 1st Transnational Project Meeting - Kick-off in Berlin (March 2022):This meeting established the project’s overall objectives, defined partner roles, and clarified the timeline of deliverables.2) A1 Training on Community Reporting and Community Mapping (May 2022):Conducted in Berlin with 15 participants, this training focused on equipping participants with skills in community reporting and mapping local communities. Following this, five partner organizations hosted events in their respective cities (Budapest, Berlin, Gdynia, Copenhagen, and Palermo) to conduct storytelling sessions and conversations for change. Result: PR1: E-book – ""INCLUDATE Communities: Local Needs for Inclusion and Diversity.""3) Development of Project Result 1:The E-book consolidated findings on inclusion and diversity needs within local communities.4) 2nd Transnational Project Meeting in Copenhagen (November 2022):Focused on strategic planning and provided an overview of Work Package 3 (Action Plans), presented by MOPS.5) 3rd Transnational Partner Meeting in Palermo (June 2023):Included a detailed review of progress on Work Package 2 (WP2) and introduced objectives and activities for Work Package 3 (WP3).6) A2 Training on Strategic Thinking and Action Planning in Palermo (June 2023):Participants engaged in constructing a problem tree to define key challenges and explored methodologies like the Theory of Change and Impact Pathways for action plan development. Discussions also covered the next steps in refining the action plan template.7) Development of Project Result 2:Local Strategies and Action Plans – comprising five detailed action plans tailored to partner communities.8) 4th Transnational Project Meeting in Strasbourg (December 2023):Focused on reviewing progress across key project outcomes and planning dissemination activities.9) Multiplier Event in Strasbourg (December 2023):A public outreach event showcasing the project's progress and results.10) A3 Training on Curriculum for Community Impact in Copenhagen (March 2024):Targeted at migrant associations, this session emphasized collaborative curriculum development and reflective practice.11) Development of Project Result 3:Interactive Curriculum and Training Guide – a comprehensive resource designed for community impact initiatives.12) A4 Training on Curriculum for Community Impact in Gdynia (April 2024):Focused on municipalities and public bodies, this session tested the curriculum with a larger audience to refine its methods.13) 5th Transnational Project Meeting in Budapest (June 2024):Reviewed overall progress, prepared for upcoming events, and addressed final administrative tasks.14) 6th Final Project Meeting in Berlin (September 2024):Concluded the project cycle with final steps and reflections.15) PAN-EU Dissemination Multiplier Events (September 2024):Held in Berlin and across partner locations (Gdynia, Copenhagen, Palermo, and Budapest) to share project outcomes with broader audiences.16) 12 Online Steering Committee Meetings and Partner Consultations:These meetings ensured continuous coordination and decision-making throughout the project.17) Ongoing Project Management and Dissemination:Effective management and dissemination activities were maintained throughout the project duration.<< Results >>The consortium of project partners succeeded in achieving all the anticipated results, exceeding expectations stated in the project application. The project's outcomes can be divided into hard and soft results.The hard results include:1. Local Needs for Inclusion and Diversity Ebook INCLUDATE (WP2): This ebook comprises analyses from five partners on the needs of local communities, migrant associations, and municipalities. It was created as a compilation of reports from local events featuring community reporting and community mapping, as well as insights from the PAN EU CoC (Conversation of Change) event. The ebook focuses on the needs of European migrant communities concerning education, housing, public and private services, and employment. During its creation, five partners mapped and analyzed the structure of local communities in five areas (Budapest, Gdynia, Palermo, Berlin, and Copenhagen), examining the role of migrant groups within local society, their specific needs, capacities, expectations, and the challenges they face.2. Local Strategies (WP3): Following the completion of the first outcome and the analysis of local community needs, five local strategies were created. These strategies, which address the most significant issues and groups identified by the partner organizations, are available in both English and the local languages. The Action Plans of the five consortium partners are as follows:aA. Crossing Borders (Copenhagen, Denmark): ""Urban Nature in Copenhagen: Untapped Potential for the Inclusion of Migrants and Minorities."" This plan strategizes on utilizing Copenhagen's urban nature as a mediator for the inclusion of migrants and minority members. The plan, divided into four chapters, incorporates insights from the Includate project and leverages Copenhagen's leadership in sustainability and green initiatives to integrate environmental considerations into social inclusion efforts. (Available in English and Danish)B. KONKAV (Budapest, Hungary): ""Tackling Early School Leaving."" This plan aims to address the high rate of early school leaving, particularly among the Roma community, in Budapest's Ferencváros district. Divided into three main chapters with a fourth referencing various sources, the plan results from extensive research, community mapping, and interviews with educators, students, parents, social workers, and community leaders. (Available in English and Hungarian)C. MOPS (Gdynia, Poland): ""Social Support Programme for Immigrants Residing in Gdynia (2024-2026)."" This three-year plan aims to enhance adaptability and community resilience amid the refugee crisis and significant migrant influx following the Ukraine conflict. The plan, organized into three chapters, is the work of a multidisciplinary group of key urban actors supporting migrants daily. (Available in English and Polish)D. Polish Social Council (Berlin, Germany): ""Integration of EU Nationals."" This three-year plan focuses on the integration of Eastern European communities, primarily from Poland, Hungary, and Romania, into Berlin's civic mechanisms. The plan benefits other migrant communities and German society at large. (Available in English and German)E. Per Esempio (Palermo, Italy): ""You Are Welc(h)ome: A Housing Program for Migrants in Palermo."" This two-year draft program aims to ensure equitable access to housing for migrants facing racial discrimination in Italy. The plan, divided into three chapters, is a collaborative effort by key stakeholders to support individuals with migrant backgrounds. (Available in English and Italian)These results are based on strategic thinking and action planning, including policy recommendations for local, regional, and European governments and policies.3. Interactive Curriculum and Guide for Community Impact (WP4)**: This outcome includes learning materials and guides designed to maximize community impact through various training programs.4. Comparative Analysis (Additional Result by MOPS, Gdynia)**: An additional result from MOPS, Gdynia, includes an analysis and comparative study summarizing all five local strategies.5. Dissemination Results (WP4): The dissemination and outreach plan comprises impact measurement, steering dissemination activities (such as logo, flyer, social media, newsletters, streams), and the creation and management of the INCLUDATE website."