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.As part of the intercultural strategy of the city of Ioannina, the city has opened a centre to welcome, provide information, support and counselling for asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants. The Intercultural Centre for Social Integration, called “Akadimia”, also assists in improving their living conditions through collaboration with all municipal services and provides assistance in accessing social protection programmes.
The Centre provides interpretation services/cultural mediation for all the municipal services and their corporate bodies, as well as organising social and cultural events and other intercultural activities.
The services provided by the Centre are being promoted throughout the city with promotional leaflets translated into 7 languages.
The Centre was opened by the municipality of Ioannina and its internal bodies (Cultural Centre, Organization of Social Protection, Solidarity and Preschool Education), in co-operation with Urban Working Group members (public authorities, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations and volunteer organizations operating in the area).The Centre was opened thanks to funding from the Open Society Foundation and through the collaboration of the Cultural Centre for Environment, Youth and Sports.
