+Solutions in Portugal
Welcoming International
David Lubell and Vanja Panti
Founded by Ashoka Fellow David Lubell
The Problem
Unprecedented growth in migration has caused unease and fear among long-time residents in communities worldwide. These fears have been exploited effectively by right-wing movements, and thus anti-migrant sentiment is spreading rapidly throughout communities. These developments hurt communities and the residents in them, making successful integration much more difficult. Incomplete local integration of newcomers, due to a lack of local, multi-sector planning for demographic change, and failure to listen to newcomers when local policies are developed cause decline in community cohesion in towns and cities experiencing growth in their immigrant and refugee populations.
The Solution
Welcoming International helps local communities adjust to – and seize as an opportunity – demographic change. They are one of the world’s premiere experts in the area of host community engagement, a proven approach that reduces anxiety and increases empathy among long-term residents in communities experiencing rapid growth in their immigrant/refugee populations. After finding significant success in the US, Welcoming International is now scaling their approach to other countries, helping communities go beyond the typical “seed-focused” approach, and direct significant attention to engaging the native-born population – the soil – in communities where refugees and migrants settle.
The Impact
Welcoming International, established in 2009 (as Welcoming America), works in over 160 cities and towns across the United States, supporting nonprofits and local governments to transform their communities into inclusive places where everyone thrives. Welcoming America connects a network of nonprofit and local government members (currently in 85 US communities) including the US White House, and provides these members with intensive support as they develop plans, programs, and policies to transform their communities into inclusive places. They also have significant presence in New Zealand and Australia and are scaling to Germany, the UK with plans to soon launch in Spain, Portugal and Sweden.
Speak
Hugo Menino Aguiar
Founded by Ashoka Fellow Hugo Menino Aguiar
The Problem
There are 258 million international migrants globally. In European countries, almost half of non-EU citizens (48.6%) are at risk of social exclusion, resulting in difficulties finding a job and nurturing or participating in local communities as equals due to xenophobia, racism and ill-informed prejudices. Locals, from their side, feel unsafe with the entrance of “different” people in their country. Moreover, the lack of opportunities to integrate, understand and empathize with people from other countries has exasperated tensions between migrants and local communities.
The Solution
SPEAK promotes the organic emergence of communities where diversity is valued and cultures are shared in a safe space through peer to peer meetings. Through an online platform locals and migrants and refugees meet to share their cultural experiences and develop meaningful bonds, allowing participants to facilitate informal language learning environments and host community events.
The Impact
Up to date, over 5,700 people have participated in SPEAK events and more than 6,100 people have attended language sharing groups, of which nearly 50% were internationals. This network has created opportunities to newcomers for getting informal recommendations and guidance regarding specific needs and integration challenges. It has also fostered new friendships and meaningful bonds among locals and newcomers, creating a sense of togetherness and belonging; the latest impact assessment report shows that, by the end of 12th week of participation in SPEAK’s learning groups and events, the participants’ sense of belonging in the host community has already increased by 15% and that language is 30% less of a barrier in their integration process.
ComParte
Maria Minas
The Problem
Immigrants and refugees lack proper integration into their new city leaving them feeling isolated. In addition, citizens lack proper knowledge, crucial for creating an inclusive society.
The Solution
ComParte is an initiative focused on citizen participation. It develops participatory methodologies with citizens and takes them to decision-making entities so that a real and direct influence is generated in the systems that they seek to change. ComParte invites immigrants and refugees in Spain to reflect on their reception in the Portuguese community and to contribute proposals and ideas to improve it. It brings people together with public and private entities that can make decisions on a larger scale.
The Impact
ComParte has helped 565 students in over 10 different schools. Many meetings have been held to promote inclusivity and this model also operates in Spain.
“Students are the best teacher of a teacher.”
Mezze
Francisca Gorjão Henriques
The Problem
Job integration is difficult for coming refugees, especially women, in Portugal due to general ignorance around the culture of the countries where the refugees come from, making their integration a lot more difficult.
The Solution
Mezze is a leading project of integration in Portugal that serves as a meeting point where a lot of women and youth are given tools so that their work, competencies, and identity are valued. Mezze creates sustainable employment solutions and contributes to inclusion through a model that will be replicated throughout the country. Mezze also organizes workshops and debates that help to dismantle stereotypes and reduce prejudices.