The issue of refugees and migration polarize the European Union and individual Member States. In response, obstacles appear in Europe. These include specific barriers and border controls that create geographical, physical and ethnic separation, but also invisible and more subtle separations that divide different parts of societies and local communities. These economic, social, ethnic and geographical separations are creating an increase in violence and discrimination in the relationship between local and foreign citizens. TILDE project involved 5 partners from 4 European countries, each affected differently by the realities of migration and refugee search processes: • ALTEKIO, INITIATIVES TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY (Spain) • XENA CENTRO SCAMBI E DINAMICHE INTERCULTURALI (Northern Italy) • DEEP DEMOCRACY DENMARK (Denmark) • ASSOCIAZONE COMUNITARE (Southern Italy) • IMPULS - Agentur für angewandte Utopien e.V. (Germany) It also included a Swiss partner, Altekio Association, whose participation was funded by the Movetia Swiss Agency. The overall objective of this project was to contribute to social inclusion in Europe by empowering refugees and migrants, as well as educators in the partner countries, to promote inclusive and transformative leadership in the communities they were part of, using creative and artistic methods. This was achieved through joint training in the innovative methodology of "Deep Democracy," creating a face-to-face Educational Programme, and a diverse Toolkit that provided conflict facilitation tools for at least 72 refugees, migrants, social workers, and educators from Northern, Central, and Southern European countries, representing the diverse experiences and challenges Europe face in this field. Deep Democracy emphasize the importance of listening to all stakeholders, even those who seemed unimportant or difficult to engage, who could offer insights leading to surprising changes and solutions. Deep Democracy focus on being aware of voices that are both central and marginal. Through this methodology, the project explored how to approach, listen, understand roles and power dynamics, identify connections, and build bridges through dialogue and arts. The project included local trainings applying the Educational Programme created, with each featuring an OPEN FORUM -a Deep Democracy methodology, inviting the local community to participate in open conversations on topics of interest. Additionally, the project generated a Toolkit with supporting materials, videos, posters and activities. These outcomes aimed to promote and expand innovative tools for inclusive and transformative leadership and conflict transformation in the field of migration. Participants co-created training spaces and materials where possible, practicing shared leadership among social organizations, local organizations collaborating in the project, and people participating in these organizations and training. The project concluded with a multiplier event in Italy: the TILDE Art Festival for Diversity, aiming to present all intellectual results. It invited some participants in the training sessions to share their experiences and stories in this creative, relaxed, and artistic learning environment. The possibility of exchanging practices and innovating in ways of educating adults in the field of migration strengthened partner organizations, allowing them to extract reflections applicable to concrete methodologies, educational formats, skills, capacities, etc. Moreover, these reflections could impact public policies, encouraging other organizations to use the shared results and continue building inclusion.
The project aimed to contribute to social inclusion in Europe by utilizing creative processes based on facilitated dialogue and artistic approaches to include refugee and migrant populations in partner countries. Our objective was to equip refugees, migrants, educators, and related personnel with innovative methodologies and tools to effectively address polarization, conflicts, and promote inclusive and transformative leadership for redefining relationships. Through the creation and dissemination of intellectual outputs and a multiplier event, we sought to have a multiplier effect on interested organizations and people on this field. We developed tools for conflict transformation and contributed to the give voice to “new” narratives about migration in our societies. They showcased examples of transforming barriers into connections and leveraging diversity to strengthen communities through transformative shared leadership, employing various artistic forms of communication. Furthermore, the project enhanced the creative capacities of participating organizations in adult education, particularly in the migration field, by fostering the exchange of experiences, sharing good practices, and developing new modes of communication.
The refugee and migration issue in the EU is polarizing society, leading to the emergence of walls, both physical and invisible, hindering social inclusion. This dynamic creates disempowerment and limited training opportunities for refugees and migrants, impeding their integration. The lack of tailored training exacerbates discrimination and conflicts surrounding diversity. The project aimed to support refugees, migrants, and social workers/educators in overcoming predefined roles and fostering partnerships and leadership. Constructive dialogue is challenging due to opposition and unwillingness to engage in debate, leading to increased separation and isolation. An approach is needed to facilitate dialogue even when one party is unresponsive. Additionally, empowering narratives and co-creative conflict transformation are lacking in this field. The project targets refugees, migrants, educators, and related staff, and seeked to engage adult education professionals, public institutions, and facilitation networks to disseminate the results created and promote conflict transformation.