The “EU-IN: European Inclusion through Intercultural Dialogue” project was a network of organizations and municipalities working towards the inclusion of disadvantaged citizens, with a particular focus on refugees, asylum seekers, Roma, and other migrant communities. The project was based on the belief that intercultural dialogue can effectively combat stigmatization and discrimination, while contributing to the creation of a more inclusive European society.
As a first step, the 12 partners from 7 EU countries and North Macedonia focused on gaining a deeper understanding of EU policies and programmes related to migrant inclusion. Through their collaboration, they enhanced the skills of staff members and volunteers by exchanging best practices from different contexts, including schools, public institutions, civil society organizations, and sports clubs. At the same time, they co-designed and participated in a cooperative learning-based training course focused on the use of non-formal education methods for intercultural dialogue, such as debate, “porteur de parole,” youth and democracy workshops, gamification, and art-based approaches.
The results of the 12 local pilot activities were evaluated and shared among the partnership, and their refined versions were incorporated into the “EU-IN Toolkit”, a key project output aimed at professionals and volunteers. The Toolkit also served as the basis for final policy recommendations addressed to EU stakeholders and decision-makers, making use of participatory democracy tools such as Citizens’ Initiatives, Citizens’ Dialogues, petitions, and public consultations.
Through 6 international events and 32 local activities, the project reached approximately 600 direct and 35,000 indirect participants. Its impact extended to professionals working with migrant and minority groups (teachers, public officers, youth workers, social workers, etc.), as well as local communities, empowering them to actively participate, express their views, and contribute to shaping European policies.