THE PROMISED LAND partnership was established in response to the Voices of Culture Structured Dialogue with the European Commission on the role of culture in promoting the inclusion of refugees, 2016. It became clear from this Structured Dialogue process that there was a very immediate need for cross-national and cross-sectoral learning activities that could help European societies respond positively to the recent influx of refugees and migrants, and to facilitate their integration into the workspace and civil society. THE PROMISED LAND aims, through a Strategic Partnership of organisations working in education, culture and vocational and professional training: - to share smart practice, innovative approaches and proven methodologies for working with new citizens and minority populations, so building the capacity of different organisations and sectors to respond to an immediate and pressing need. - to adapt and apply innovative practices relating to VET learning and teaching methodologies in the context of migration. - to adopt a cross-sectoral approach, so as to apply learning from educational and cultural providers to the business sector, and vice-versa, generating more modern, dynamic, committed and open professional environments; in which new citizens are able not only to develop as integrated citizens, but to which they are also able to contribute positively, precisely because of their specific experiences and identities. Participants will include key staff from the partner organisations, ranging from a University to a business training provider, via cultural organisations both civic and independent. They will work closely with a range of Associate Partners to engage other learners in the training activities offered, particularly participants with refugee and migrant backgrounds. Across the two year project, it is estimated that 4500 people will be directly engaged. The project will be delivered through a series of transnational learning, teaching and training activities: Dec 2017: C1 - Training around intercultural competencies for work with refugees and migrants - Adana, Turkey April 2018: C2 - Training around cultural work in response to the refugee crisis, Bologna, IT July 2018: C3 - Training around educational use of theatre with refugees and migrants, London UK Oct 2018: C4 - Training around museums as meeting points for work with refugees and migrants, Oldenburg DE March 2019: C5 - Training in application of intercultural competencies and awareness of refugee and migrant issues to business contexts, Toulouse, FR Through this sustained process of Practice Exchange, the following results will be achieved: Result 1 - Five training courses around good practice Result 2 - Elaboration of at least 50 good practice methods of teaching participation and citizenship for new arrivals in Europe, based on a commonly developed and tested evaluation grid. Result 3 - The development of an evaluation tool/ criteria catalogue to identifying good practice. Result 4 - Policy recommendation paper: based on the presented methods and input of expertise by each partner, the partnership will conclude each transnational meeting with a policy recommendation. Result 5 - An e-book documenting the project and the methods recommended. The nature of these results is such that, with a full and carefully implemented plan for dissemination, the impact of the project will be profound and wide-ranging. The partnership aims to affect the practice of VET and education for refugees and migrants in Europe across a range of sectors and countries, both by directly influencing training providers and educational institutions, and by influencing policy-makers. We expect to influence (through the recommendations and good practices) European discourses on teaching and learning for refugees and migrants. The practice evaluations and the e-book are aimed to impact on research, such as curriculum design in schools, colleges, and adult, youth and VET training providers. The policy recommendations will be directed towards members of the European Parliament. The partnership will raise awareness of the broader European public for education and training around the integration of refugees and migrants. In line with the 2015 Paris Declaration, the partners support and promote an inclusive approach to European citizenship and the common values of freedom, tolerance and non-discrimination through education. We also believe that this has to be done through an intercultural, non-judgmental methodology, that recognises the ways in which migrant groups can contribute positively to these goals.
THE PROMISED LAND was a cross-sectoral project, established in response to the 2016 Voices of Culture Structured Dialogue with the European Commission on the role of culture in promoting the inclusion of refugees. That Dialogue showed the need for cross-national and cross-sectoral learning activities that could help European societies respond positively to the influx of refugees and migrants, and to facilitate their integration into the workspace and civil society. The partnership included organisations working in theatre, museums, higher education and business, operating alongside associate partners directly engaged with refugees. The objectives were: - to share smart practice, innovative approaches and proven methodologies for working with new citizens and minority populations, so building the capacity of different organisations and sectors to respond to an immediate and pressing need. - to adapt and apply innovative practices relating to VET learning and teaching methodologies in the context of migration. - to adopt a cross-sectoral approach, so as to apply learning from educational and cultural providers to the business sector, and vice-versa, generating more modern, dynamic, committed and open professional environments; in which new citizens are able not only to develop as integrated citizens, but to which they are also able to contribute positively, precisely because of their specific experiences and identities. Project participants were drawn from the staff and volunteers of the partner organisations. The project also engaged Associate Partners working directly with refugees, ensuring that there were participants who were themselves refugees and migrants. Approximately 200 people from refugee backgrounds were engaged through this aspect of the work. The project was structured around a series of five Staff Training weeks, each of which engaged participants in the working practices of the partners, the ways in which these are evolving to include new citizens, and the potential for further engagement. In particular, visiting staff were able to meet refugee organisations in each country, and to observe how the different partners interact with these communities. The various practices explored in the trainings were subject to rigorous evaluation by the Steering Committee in their Evaluation Grid, and in the Transnational Project Meetings that took place between Trainings. This process led to a selection of practices and the creation of a set of Policy Recommendations to support the various sectors in their work with refugees. The main outcomes of the project have been in the training and development of staff and volunteers to work more sensitively and holistically with refugees and migrants, and in cultural shifts within the participating organisations and associate partners. The main tangible result of the project is the e-book, which contextualises the different national and European contexts, explores the different disciplines as they relate to work with refugees and migrants, and offers concrete examples of good practices that can be utilised in this area, as well as the Policy Recommendations. At 23rd August, there had been 1,513 reads of the e-book on issuu, and 2,776 impressions, far in excess of the dissemination and impact levels anticipated at the application stage. The impact of the project on all the partners has been very strong, with each partner developing new projects in direct response. Border Crossings is setting up a new theatre group for refugee and non-refugee youth; Teatro dell’Argine is establishing a new project with young refugees; Stadt Oldenburg is offering free museum tours for refugees; Adana Science & Technology University is developing staff to be more sensitive to the cultural difference of Syrians; and i2u Consulting has been invited to join the Toulouse Mayor’s working group on the integration of migrants into the city. These impacts on the partners are also indicative of wider impact on the sector, associate partners, participants and wider society.