PROJECT TITLE: Local Alliance for Integration (776213/LION)
COUNTRIES: GREECE
OVERALL OBJECTIVE:
During the past few years Europe and particularly Greece have faced the largest refugee and migrant influx in their recent history, which in turn has increased the need for an effective integration of Third Country Nationals (TCNs) into society and their active participation in the Greek socio-political fabric (i.e. employment, healthcare, social care, formal education and socio-cultural coexistence).The aim of this project is geared towards that direction by creating a platform, whereby consultations between actors of local society and TCNs will take place. Via this platform, both groups will have the chance to exchange opinions, share experiences and practices, establish strong relationships, and participate in common activities, thus becoming the representative voice in the “Migrant Integration Councils”, which have been operating in Greece since 2010.
ACTIVITIES:
The activities of the project are planned to take place in the city of Thessaloniki due to the large number of TCNs that are located in Northern Greece and especially in and around the city of Thessaloniki. Prior to the establishment of this platform, capacity building activities, such as training andworkshops targeting TCNs and local stakeholders (frontline practitioners, hospital staff and teachers et al.), will take place along with dissemination actions, so as to pave the way for a fruitful cooperation between all stakeholders involved.
The European Public Law Organization (EPLO) contributes to the implementation of Work Package 1 “Methodology and Documentation” and is the lead beneficiary of Work Package 3 “Promoting integration through consultations and awareness” in the context of which a consultation platform with be developed with the participation of key stakeholders (local authorities’ representatives, NGO’s, volunteers) and third-country nationals in Thessaloniki. The core part of this Work Package is the development of an active platform in Thessaloniki where key stakeholders and Third-Country Nationals can dynamically take part in consultation activities. The platform will thus act as a promoter of open dialogue facilitating the exchange of opinions and the sharing of experiences through consultations in five core areas of interest: employment, healthcare, social care, formal education and socio cultural coexistence in line with the policy areas included in the EU Action Plan on the Integration of TCNs. In addition, dedicated Info Days will be organized, where Third-Country Nationals will present the main issues raised in the consultations.
FUNDING AGENCY: Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF-2016-AG-INTE) of the European Union
LEADER: National School of Public Health (NSPH/ESDY)
PARTNERS: The University of Gent, PRAKSIS, the European Public Law Organization (EPLO), CMT PROOPTIKI and Syn-Eirmos.
TIME FRAME: December 2017- November 2019
