The aim of the ComPARE project was to support the integration of migrants, refugees and returnees into local communities in the Czech Republic and Germany. In the Czech Republic, we wanted to create opportunities for joint activities between locals and migrants, such as workshops and cultural events that would promote intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding. We also aimed to strengthen the skills of community workers and volunteers in working with migrants and to develop good practices in non-formal education. In Germany, we worked with Über den Tellerrand to learn from their successful integration practices and share our experiences with migration awareness campaigns. The overall aim was to create sustainable, inclusive communities that will be able to support their members after the project ends, and to develop the skills of migrants so that they can actively contribute to their new communities.
The ComPARE project was launched to address the challenges of integrating migrants, refugees and returnees into local communities in the Czech Republic and Germany. In the Czech Republic, there was a need to promote social inclusion through non-formal educational methods and community activities that would enable rapprochement between migrants and local residents. In Germany, we saw an opportunity to learn from more experienced partners who have been implementing integration programmes successfully for a long time and to take their experience for practical application in the Czech Republic. At the same time, the German partners learned from us how to work effectively with campaigns to raise awareness and engage the public in the topic of integration. The German organisation Über den Tellerrand provided proven methods such as community cooking and interactive workshops, which proved to be very effective in promoting integration. These experiences were valuable for us to apply to local conditions and improve our integration activities.