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Intercultural cities: good practice examples

The Intercultural city aims at building its policies and identity on the explicit acknowledgement that diversity can be a resource for the development of the society.

The first step is the adoption (and implementation) of strategies that facilitate positive intercultural encounters and exchanges, and promote equal and active participation of residents and communities in the development of the city, thus responding to the needs of a diverse population. The Intercultural integration policy model is based on extensive research evidence, on a range of international legal instruments, and on the collective input of the cities member of the Intercultural Cities programme that share their good practice examples on how to better manage diversity, address possible conflicts, and benefit from the diversity advantage.

This section offers examples of intercultural approaches that facilitate the development and implementation of intercultural strategies.

Template for collection of Good practices >>

Themes Education

Promoting multilingualism

spain Spain Barcelona

Purpose: A language learning programme recognising and promoting the linguistic diversity in Barcelona’s neighbourhoods was launched to: foster multilingualism in the city and within the...

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Empowering Roma Students

greece Greece Patras 23/02/2022 – 23/02/2025

Purpose: The purpose of the collaboration between the Social Organisation of the Municipality of Patras and the University of Patras is to address the educational inequality and marginalization...

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Roma school promoters

spain Spain Barcelona Since 2014

Purpose: To address the inequalities in the education system through a “school promoters” project. The School Promoters aims to achieve full schooling, school success and the socio-labour promotion...

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Multilingual initiatives improve the intercultural dialogue and the inclusive integration

cyprus Cyprus Limassol Ongoing

Purpose: The purpose of the activity is to foster intercultural dialogue and inclusive integration through multilingual initiatives. The city of Limassol, Cyprus, takes significant steps to...

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The Leeds Learning Alliance

united-kingdom United Kingdom Leeds Since 2019

The Leeds Learning Alliance (LLA) is a consortium of organisations formed in 2019 by a group of leaders, aiming to improve education in Leeds, United Kingdom (UK). The Alliance is unusual in the UK...

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Barcelona Centre for Linguistic Normalisation

spain Spain Barcelona CNL was founded in 1988

Purpose: The Consortium for Linguistic Normalisation (CPNL) is a public body created from the common will of the Regional Government and numerous local, county and provincial councils with the aim...

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Measuring cultural empathy

ukraine Ukraine Melitopol 2016

A sociological study on cultural competences in Ukraine, leading to policy development Melitopol is a city of the Azov region where, for more than 225 years, there has been a harmonious coexistence...

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Johannes Learning Centre - a bilingual school which teaches and hires minorities

norway Norway Stavanger Running for several decades

Purpose: Johannes Learning Centre is Stavanger’s main vehicle for building language competence. Although originally all the staff were Norwegians, 40% are now of minority background. The school has...

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Fargespil (Kaleidoscope)

norway Norway Bergen 2016

Purpose: To foster experiences of both alikeness and the richness of diversity by bringing different young actors representing different national music and dance traditions together in a musical...

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A city international policy

italy Italy Reggio Emilia Ended in 2014

Purpose: An aspiring intercultural city should have an international policy that seeks, at least in part, to promote a dynamic relationship with places of origin of major Diaspora groups. Such...

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Amadora Empreende

portugal Portugal Amadora 2016

Entrepreneurship programme to encourage minorities business The Programme “Amadora Empreende” seeks to identify, in association with the youth and people in situations of social vulnerability,...

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Education projects for interculturality

spain Spain Sabadell 2020

Purpose: Education projects are aimed at building students competences – including intercultural competences-, raising awareness about diversity and promoting critical thinking. The City and School...

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La Rosa dei Venti - Mediation desk

italy Italy Novellara 2018 - Ongoing

Purpose: Enhance social inclusion of women - both foreign and Italian - through cultural and recreational activities. Stimulus/Rationale: Within the framework of gender equality and...

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The Counsellor for Gender Equality

portugal Portugal Cascais Since 2017 - Ongoing

Purpose: The “Conselheira para a Igualdade” (Counsellor for Equality) is a person of reference appointed by the Cascais City Council to defend Gender Equality. Stimulus/Rationale: Gender Equality...

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241FE- 241 Female Entrepreneurship

greece Greece Patras 2020 - 2023

Purpose: Women are the primary victims of the intertwined causes of conflicts, underdevelopment and migration. To address these issues, in a sustainable and humanitarian way, migrants should be...

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Study in Lisbon programme

portugal Portugal Lisbon 2018 - ongoing

Purpose: The website “Study in Lisbon” is directed specifically at foreign students, encouraging them to pursue their studies in Lisbon (“10 reasons to study in Lisbon”) as well as providing...

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Stronger communities – The Schools Linking Network

united-kingdom United Kingdom Bradford JAN - DEC 2020

Purpose: Supporting children and young people to explore identity, build connections & strengthen communities so everyone can live well together. Stimulus/Rationale: Bradford works with primary,...

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Language Platform EIF-FEL Network

france France Paris 2016-2024 (renewal planned for 2025-2027)

Purpose: The EIF-FEL project, implemented by the City of Paris since 2016, aims to simplify and coordinate French language learning pathways. The initiative addresses three main challenges:...

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Supporting intercultural teaching and mutual understanding in schools

poland Poland Krakow 2024

Purpose: To support schools with a high intake of students from other countries, particularly after Russia’s war against Ukraine. Stimulus/Rationale: The enrolment of students from Ukraine after...

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Building human rights and equality competency

iceland Iceland Reykjavik 2018 - 2021

Purpose: to implement the City of Reykjavik Human Rights Policy; to enhance quality customer service with its emphasis on meeting the needs of a diversity of customers and with the creativity and...

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Themes
0 Combating disinformation
0 International outlook
0 Youth
Year
UN Sustainable Development Goals
0 1. No poverty
0 2. Zero hunger
0 3. Good health and wellbeing
0 4. Quality education
0 5. Gender equality
0 6. Clean water and sanitation
0 7. Affordable and clean energy
0 8. Decent work and economic growth
0 9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure
0 10. Reduced inequalities
0 11. Sustainable cities and communities
0 12. Responsible consumption and production
0 13. Climate action
0 14. Life below water
0 15. Life on land
0 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions
0 17. Partnerships for the goals