Назад Barcelos Without Borders

Purpose: The general objective of the project was to establish a multidisciplinary program in the Municipality of Barcelos that would respond to the demographic challenges and migratory movements of globalisation and promote the integration of migrants at various levels as a factor of inclusion, development and social cohesion.

Stimulus/Rationale: The Municipality of Barcelos, attentive to the integration of the migrant population present in the territory of Barcelos, carried out, within the scope of the National Program of the Fund for Asylum, Migration and Integration (AMIF), the project Without Borders, AMIF 103.

Raising awareness of the importance of processes leading to the effective integration of the migrant community truly contributes to the promotion of human dignity and is a fundamental step to ensure that through reflection and critical thinking we understand our role in the world and the power of being agents of social transformation.

This project also promoted the integration of the migrant community, through participation in activities developed by the Municipality of Barcelos. The inclusion workshops were a way to stimulate dialogue about diversity, integration, culture and equality.

The learning of the Portuguese language is also a fundamental requirement for the integration process, as it facilitates the migrant community's access to the labour market, the school system and, in general, active participation in society.

Process: During 2023, the Barcelos Without Borders project promoted several actions (integrated and complementary) for third-country nationals and professionals working in the field of migration https://barcelosintegracao.com/a2/ :

  • Awareness-raising sessions to facilitate the reception and integration of the migrant community. The project promoted these sessions with the partners of the Local Council for Social Action of Barcelos and the Local Insertion Centre (NLI).
  • Seminar Barcelos Without Borders, held in December 2023, in the Auditorium of the Municipal Library of Barcelos, important themes for the effective integration of the migrant community were addressed. Of these, we would highlight: strategies to enhance a better integration of the migrant population in the municipality of Barcelos; professional integration, diversity and inclusion in education. The participation of the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA), highlighted the work carried out in this area, underlining the diversity and importance of the actions and projects underway in the municipality's territory.
  • A Communication Plan with creation and distribution of a poster and a leaflet called "Barcelos without Borders", aimed at the migrant community with useful information and contacts. The leaflet is translated into English, French, Spanish and Ukrainian. A web page was also created, called "Barcelos Integration". The page is a support and information tool with the aim of explaining administrative processes to the migrant population residing in the municipality of Barcelos by providing them with updated and objective information, such as: Local Support Centre for the Integration of Migrants (CLAIM); Interculturality, Migrant Support Guide; Migrant Support Line – Telephone Translation Service, among others. The Page can also be accessed through the Website of the Municipality of Barcelos https://www.cm-barcelos.pt/.
  • Handicraft workshops of painting and modelling were developed at the Pottery Museum, where participants also had contact with the Legend of the "Rooster of Barcelos" and the exhibition "Pottery of Portugal". The migrant population also participated in a metalworking workshop where they experimented with the design of small pieces of copper. This set of activities aimed to teach those participating about the cultural history of the municipality of Barcelos, as well as the traditions and customs of the municipality. 
  • Cycle of Gatherings - my land / your land / our land for students from the migrant community from third countries. In this activity, the participants shared direct testimony and experiences on various topics such as interculturality and differences between cultures.
  • "Together We Are More": several groups of migrants participated in multidisciplinary actions, such as sports, environmental education and exploration of knowledge of local heritage.
  • - Courses on Portuguese language and culture, where the participants obtained Level 2 – Elementary User of the CEFR – Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Impact: The project had the participation of 458 migrants of different nationalities. 

The project provided legal support for the creation of a migrants' association. Several meetings were held, in different spaces, with the population of the migrant community of Guinean, Venezuelan, Brazilian, Ukrainian, Ghanaian, Angolan and Colombian nationalities. The association was registered at the civil registry office of Barcelos in December 2023 and was renamed Associação Fronteira Filosófica – Associação Cultural e Recreativa. Within the scope of this association, the field of interculturality stands out for the presence of people of various nationalities. Dialogue, empathy and respect for human dignity and cultural diversity were present at the basis of its creation.

With these initiatives, the Municipality of Barcelos contributed to the reception and integration of migrant communities in the territory.

Key reference documents:  

 

2023
  • Diminuer la taille du texte
  • Augmenter la taille du texte
  • Imprimer la page