Since the implementation of the Erasmus+ project The InterMEDs – Fostering ‘Intercultural MEDiators’ in June 2020, OTB Europe and partners have started to work towards the establishment of a community coalition and mutual understanding. This project aims to create a space of exchange between different communities, who will be able to interact thanks to the introduction of the InterMEDs mediators.
The major importance of the project comes from its main aim to foster cooperation between local and migrant communities, thus enhancing respect, tolerance, cooperation, coalition, and mutual understanding.
As the project progressed, OTB Europe has explored several resources facilitating intercultural mediation and lifelong education. To check one of them out, please click here for an introduction to Intercultural Communication! As part of foreseen activities, we also analyzed the trends in adult participation in learning and training.
Putting together the information gathered on adult learning while keeping in mind the goal to bridge the gap between the local and migrant community, we found multiple interesting and enriching good practices which foster cultural exchange and boost cooperation.
For example, the non-profit EELC Ontika Training Centre[1] in Estonia, focused on implementing non-formal courses for Russian-speaking migrants to teach them Estonian. This not only enabled them to integrate into the community, but also to find a job in the near future. In Germany, the Mannheim Evening Academy and Adult Education Centre[2] enabled migrant women who have successfully integrated within the German society to play an active role as multipliers supporting other migrants from similar backgrounds. Some of the learning activities include visiting local authorities or institutions to get them more familiar with the system. Finally, the Diversonopoly[3] board game, created under the Grundtvig project, promotes intercultural communication and understanding between asylum seekers, migrants or refugees, and the local community. The following image shows what the game looks like.
These are only some initiatives. If you want to find out more about how the MEDiators of the InterMEDs project contribute towards bringing communities closer together and how they address social inclusion and boost the acquisition of skills and competences, click on this link.
Sources:
Dash, B., Henkes., and Kil, M. (2013). Outreach – Empowerment – Diversity Collection, Presentation and Analysis of Good Practice Examples from Adult Education Leading towards an Inclusive Society. Available at: https://www.oed-network.eu/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/oed-collection-of-good-practice-report_26-04_final-2.pdf.
Diversonopoly. (2019) Exchange of intercultural skills for social inclusion. Available at: https://www.whkt.de/avik/index.php/2019/02/14/59/.
Eurostat (2021). Participation rate in education and training (last 4 weeks) by sex and educational attainment level. Available at: https://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=trng_lfse_03&lang=en.
[1] OED: Collection, Presentation and Analysis of Good Practice Examples from Adult Education Leading towards an Inclusive Society, 2013, pg: 21-22.
[2] OED: Collection, Presentation and Analysis of Good Practice Examples from Adult Education Leading towards an Inclusive Society, 2013, pg: 40-41.
[3] Diversonopoly, 2019.