ERLANGEN HOSTS THE 16 CITIES OF NET-IDEA FOR A FIRST EXCHANGE OF PRACTICES AND EXPERIENCES
The second face-to-face meeting and the first International Seminar for the Exchange of Experiences and Good Practices of the NET-IDEA Project brought together the partners, cities and some territorial actors in Erlangen to strengthen the dialogue and debate between cities and intercultural city networks on the importance of intercultural competences and alternative narratives. In particular, the agenda of this face-to-face meeting, held at the end of April, was hosted by the Municipality of Erlangen, a partner of NET-IDEA, and addressed the following topics:
EXCHANGE ON THE FIRST RESULTS OF THE INTERCULTURAL SKILLS STRENGTHENING PILOT PROGRAM
The pilot training on intercultural competencies has already been implemented in the sixteen cities involved in the NET-IDEA Project and one of the main objectives of Erlangen was to share the experience starting from some food for thought that emerged from the results of the internal evaluations carried out by the participants in the different cities, on the adaptability of the training to the different target groups involved, to what extent the differences of context, the level of competences of local administrations and the level of development of local intercultural policies influenced the training courses, how to ensure that the training is incorporated into the internal city training planning and does not remain a one-off event, how to transfer this pilot training experience to other cities. Some participants and facilitators of the training (part of the group that attended the Erlangen event), together with the partners who designed the training and representatives of the cities who supported the organization of the training and selected the participants, shared their experiences/considerations on the subject. Opportunities for mainstreaming training were also discussed. A senior ICC Program Officer/Council of Europe enriched this debate with a speech on the importance of training on intercultural competencies with concrete examples/experiences of how cities belonging to the ICC Program have implemented training with the aim of responding to specific needs or to broaden their impact.
INTERNAL TRAINING ON NEW NARRATIONS AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION
A specific session was dedicated to how to build a new effective and inclusive citizen narrative on diversity with an intercultural approach, having young people as the main target group. A workshop designed and implemented by local external experts was carried out to define a common framework related to awareness-raising actions and communication campaigns on social media. Participants first reflected on their understanding of the importance of the intercultural approach. Subsequently, they used the people/roles method in small working groups to identify the main needs and interests of young people and figure out how to make the activities more attractive for this target group. Finally, the working groups presented their ideas in a gallery walk and participants voted for the most popular ideas and key concepts. The themes of identity and sense of belonging have been selected as the main ideas that will guide the awareness and communication work under the common message I CAN BE 100% EVERYTHING.
This session included another intervention by the ICC Program Officer/Council of Europe on the importance of awareness-raising/communication campaigns with concrete examples/experiences of how cities belonging to the ICC Program have tackled this issue. A social program including a welcome by the mayor of Erlangen and a tour of the city of Erlangen dedicated to places and practices of intercultural integration promoted understanding of the host city’s intercultural approach. A member of the Advisory Board for Foreigners and Integration of Erlangen attended the meeting and joined the tour, also sharing his own history of integration and good practice of participation/representation of the diversity of local communities with migrant backgrounds.
