The intercultural city is an inclusive place; a place where we all feel welcome, get to participate, interact, and learn from each other. The intercultural city is our Home. And while for some of us that place is where we were born or where we could freely choose to settle, for others it is someplace different: they were forced to leave their Home and found a new one in our intercultural city. We all deserve a safe Home.

On the occasion of World Refugee Day (20 June 2021), the Intercultural Cities programme calls on all member cities and regions to consider what “Home” really means. Is home a place where you feel safe? A place where you hear the voices of friends and family? A place where you feel welcome? Is Home a new hope? We strongly believe that we all want to feel at home somewhere, and while home can be many things, this idea unites us. To that end, for this year’s World Refugee Day intercultural cities are invited to share their Homes and campaign under the joint slogan Our Intercultural City - Our Home >> Concept note (+ Spanish version).

Through the joint campaign the Intercultural Cities will support the annual UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) campaign to stand together #WithRefugees.

The joint hashtag for the campaign is #ICCities together #WithRefugees

 Twitter banners to download (banners in English, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish):

 Facebook banners to download (banners in English, French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish):

 Download the posters in different colours:

 You can also download the Toolkit (banners, frame, badge) via Canva

Cities across the world have always been melting pots of cultures, ideas and experiences. Offering everything from loud marketplaces to silent parks, our cities have become the homes of sensations, allowing us to experience new sounds, sights and smells every day. As the pandemic struck and many of our streets fell silent, the delicious smells of the restaurants became a memory of the past and the cheering crowds from the football game were placed in front of the TV instead, we all lost touch with parts of the diversity we love. And while we are all bound to stay at home and stay safe just a little bit longer, there is no reason not to join forces online to celebrate the diversity in the cities among us.

For this year’s World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, the Intercultural Cities therefore invites member cities and regions to join a virtual journey to unlock the diversity in your city and revive your senses in the joint campaign “Feel diversity – revive your senses” >> Concept note.

The joint hashtag for the campaign is #ICCities #CelebrateDiversity

 Twitter banner to download:

 Facebook banner to download:

 You can also download the Toolkit (banners, frame, badge) via Canva

Campaign for cities

On the occasion of International Migrants Day on 18 December 2021, the Intercultural Cities programme together with its member cities aims to break down stereotypes that collate to individuals when they are considered part of a group and will focus on the many things which make us all diverse.

Under the slogan “More than migrants” the campaign will focus on showing the complexity of identities, moving past stereotypical labels showcasing we are all more than one thing. By highlighting the diversity advantage, the campaign will show what can achieve together if we are all empowered to participate and contribute to the societies we live in, underlining that this is what creates the potential richness of the diversity in our cities.

• Full concept note (Italian, Spanish, Portuguese  and Ukrainian versions)

Competition for schools

What defines you? It is not an easy question to answer, and no two persons will give the same response - even you yourself may find the answer differs depending on the situation, location or topic discussed. This is natural, as we all identify with many things – places, groups, causes, and who we are is never just one thing. The things we do, feel, believe, and find important all help shape us and form our identities at any a given time and depending on our life experiences, and this diversity is what enriches our intercultural cities, brings new ideas, point of views and new interactions to our everyday.

Under the slogan “More than migrants” the Intercultural Cities programme invite school classes to join the competition.

What? Poem/essay with accompanying illustrations produced by the class to reflect on the topic of identity, migration, stereotypes, and diversity as a value.

For whom? All school classes with students aged 11-18 years. The class shall submit one file representing the work of the class. Several classes in the same school may submit files.

Deadline? 19 November 2021

The winning submissions will be part of a Council of Europe publication which will include also the portraits and statements of interculturally committed Mayors/elected officials, and personal stories from migrants living in the Intercultural Cities. The publication will be launched worldwide through the Intercultural Cities Network in December 2021, together with the other campaign materials.

Curious to find out more?

• Full instructions for the school competition (Italian, Spanish, Portuguese and Ukrainian versions)

The campaign toolkit will be published in September 2021.