Within the communication campaign “More than migrants” in celebration of International Migrants Day, the Council of Europe and Intercultural Cities programme (ICC) invite schools to engage in a competition to break down the stereotypes that reduce migrants’ identities to labels. The school competition aims to trigger a collective reflection on the complexity of the identities that make each of us unique. The emphasis is on the contribution that each of us can make to society when we are given the opportunity to be ourselves, not just a label.

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. An additional category for 5–10-year-olds is also available. 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?

• Download the instructions for the school competition (Italian | Portuguese | Spanish | Ukrainian)
• See the full campaign materials