Intercultural cities: good practice examples
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 >>
To get acquainted with cities’ good practices related to the management of the Covid-19 pandemic, please visit Intercultural Cities: COVID-19 Special page.
Amadora
Providing information and strengthening awareness about business development for most vulnerable
Amadora - “Amadora Empreende” Programme
The Programme “Amadora Empreende” seeks to identify, with the young population and from people in situations of social vulnerability of Amadora, individual entrepreneurial initiatives by providing the necessary conditions for developing a business idea. With two distinct points of action: “ A...
Amadora Empreende
The Programme “Amadora Empreende” seeks to identify, in association with the youth and people in situations of social vulnerability, individual entrepreneurial initiatives by providing the necessary conditions for developing a business idea. There are two distinct points of action: “A Incubadora...
Anti-rumour agents and cultural activities to increase acceptance of newcomers in Amadora
Amadora participated in the Council of Europe pilot Anti-rumours project already in 2014. The project resulted in the creation of an anti-rumours network in each of the participating cities. Since then, Amadora has continued developing and sustaining its anti-rumours strategy. The Amadora...
Don’t Feed the Rumour
“Immigrants are linked to crime and radicalisation”, “immigrants live off grants from the state” or “foreign children only bring problems to the schools”, are just a few of the rumours spread about immigrants. The campaign “Do not feed the rumour” aims to fight against stereotypes, prejudices and...
Fostering inclusive recruitment: project report and Guidebook for Employers
Employment is crucial factor for inclusion: it brings economic independence, and it is often a starting point for newcomers and migrants to develop local networks and relationships, and to fully develop their potential. However, migrants and newcomer do not always have easy and clear access to...
Ansan
Democratic citizenship in Ansan
Under the Public Official Election Act of the Republic of Korea, only Korean nationals aged 25 or older may run for a local election. Those with foreign nationality are not allowed to be a candidate although they are entitled to vote in local elections three years after the acquisition of...
Education support centers to promote intercultural skills
In the Republic of Korea regional Education Offices are responsible for education in their jurisdiction, not local governments. However, Ansan City has role to assist the regional Education Office and runs education support centres to help students learn. There are 34,655 elementary school...
Intercultural public services for a “Global City”
Guided by its vision “A Global City and Leader in Korea,” the city of Ansan makes pioneering efforts to develop policies for non-nationals and make the city a place for the co-prosperity of nationals and non-nationals. Ansan City sees non-national policy as one of its key policy areas and has the...
Media and social media intercultural literacy
Ansan City, in cooperation with local media companies, runs a multicultural newspaper subscription project. It aims to provide non-nationals with a range of information and inform them about the city’s policies. The multicultural newspaper is published twice a month, with a circulation of 20,000...
Promoting multilingualism in a multicultural city
Ansan City offers Korean language education for non-nationals. The city itself runs Korean language education programmes while commissioning private organisations to complete the offer. There is a course in preparation for the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), which is considered a necessity...
The Intercultural acceptance survey to build intercultural competence skills
The Republic of Korea conducts a triannual survey of locals on their intercultural acceptance. The findings from the survey serve as reference data for policy development. To ensure even more precise information analysis, Ansan City plans to conduct its own intercultural acceptance survey once a...
Auckland
A “Together We’re Auckland” Communications Guide
The 'Together We're Auckland' communications guide helps the Auckland Council convey a sense of togetherness, diversity, collaboration and a positive outcome and community spirit. With the support of this guide, the Council aims to ensure that every Aucklander feels included in what is happening...
An ‘Integrated Area Plan’
When proposing a change, Auckland Council partners with appropriate community organisations to engage with the communities affected. In 2017, the Council included the communities of South Auckland in an 'integrated area plan' to prepare for future development in the area. The engagement strategy...
Auckland’s intercultural elections
Auckland’s 2016 election campaign was developed to appeal to those traditionally less likely to vote. The city sought feedback on it from ethnically diverse focus groups and adapted the messages to appeal to specific communities, including the Māori, Pacific, Chinese and Rainbow communities. New...
Auckland’s minority advisory bodies
The Independent Māori Statutory Board (IMSB) is mandated through legislation to ensure Auckland Council takes the views of Māori in Auckland into account when making decisions. The IMSB monitors Auckland Council activities, providing advice and assisting with the development of strategies and...
Auckland’s Research and Monitoring Unit
Auckland Council's Research and Monitoring Unit (RIMU) conducts environmental, social, economic and cultural research to inform and support policy development, implementation and evaluation. The Auckland Plan 2050, for example, is based on statistical and qualitative evidence about diversity and...
Auckland’s support for its diverse entrepreneurs
The council-controlled organisation “Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development” (ATEED) has created a range of programmes and facilities that can support entrepreneurs from all cultural backgrounds: GridAKL is part of Auckland City’s Wynyard Quarter Innovation Precinct. The GridAKL ethos...
Nga Kete Akoranga (NKA)
The Nga Kete Akoranga (NKA) is a programme of learning and development activities available to all Auckland Council staff. The programme builds staff capability to respond effectively to Māori and meet the strategic goals, policy directives and commitments to the Treaty of Waitangi. It includes a...
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week)
Auckland participates in the Māori Language Week, organising various events and activities across the city. These include bi-lingual story-telling in te reo Māori and English, performances by Māori artists, competitions in the knowledge of Māori words, reading groups for adults, workshops in...
The Auckland Plan 2050
The Auckland Plan 2050 outlines a 30 year strategy for Auckland to tackle three key challenges: Population growth and its implications (pressures on communities, environment, housing and roads) Sharing prosperity with all Aucklanders (economic deprivation in certain areas, unjust social patterns...
The Champions for Change Network
Many of Auckland’s senior leaders are part of the nation-wide Champions for Change Network, a group of Chief Executives and Chairs from the public and private sector who are committed to raising the value of diversity and inclusiveness throughout the wider business community. This network takes...
The Inclusive Auckland Framework
Auckland Council's Inclusive Auckland Framework outlines an organization-wide change programme led by the Diversity and Inclusion Team to improve diversity and inclusion outcomes for Aucklanders and for the Council. It draws on and aligns perfectly with the intercultural cities principles and...
The Quality of Life Project
Auckland Council collaborates with other New Zealand councils to manage, fund and administrate the Quality of Life Project which asks residents about perceptions of the impact of diversity on Auckland as a place to live. In the 2016 Quality of Life survey, just over half (53%) of Aucklanders...
The Study Auckland Team
The council-controlled organisation “Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development” (ATEED) has set up a “Study Auckland” team to maximise the long-term benefits international education brings, by: Positioning Auckland as a centre of excellence to attract students who will make a valuable...
The Tripartite Economic Alliance
The Tripartite Economic Alliance increases meaningful and substantive trade and investment opportunities for Auckland-based businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors with two of its key international partner cities (Guangzhou and Los Angeles). At the same time it allows the city to foster its...
“Cultural awareness capability”
“Cultural awareness capability” is included as a requirement for the role of an elected member at the Auckland Council. It requires members to: Understand and empathise with different people and cultures within the Auckland community; Respect and embrace differences and diversity in a...
Ballarat
Harmony Fest
Since it was launched in 2010, Harmony Fest has become the City of Ballarat’s vibrant diversity celebration. Harmony Fest wraps around Harmony Day, the United Nation’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which is celebrated on 21 March. The day encourages Australians...
Intercultural Employment Pathways Program
The Intercultural Employment Pathways Programme (IEP) aims to enhance social inclusion, employment and education pathways for culturally and linguistically diverse men, women and youth. This programme supports participants with training and personal development opportunities to be work and...
Intercultural Interaction: collective healing and memory of this time
In 2020 the Cities of Ballarat, Melton and Maribyrnong launched a Storytelling project involving a series of three remotely delivered workshops that focused on how the art of storytelling can be used to help build connection, address fear, ease anxiety, and be a tool in trauma-informed practice....
Reconciliation Action Plan
The City of Ballarat have developed and Innovative Reconciliation Action Plan May 2019 – May 2021. This plan demonstrates an organisational commitment to raising awareness about reconciliation, demonstrating this commitment and raising the profile of reconciliation in our community. The City of...
Through the iGen Foundation the Australian civil society promotes the practice of interculturalism in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region
Since 2015, iGen Foundation, a company established in Australia which works mainly in the area of youth and migrant entrepreneurship and management consulting, is meeting Mayors and other elected members within city councils in Australia and New Zealand to encourage membership of ICC. iGen...
Barcelona
Bergen
Bergen – a safe city for LGBTI refugees and citizens with migrant background
Many immigrants in Bergen come from countries with a different view on gender and sexuality diversity than in Norway. In several countries homosexuality is still illegal, so in order to promote good attitudes the city needs to convey information of lgbti-people’s situation in Norway. Therefore,...
Bergen: Integration project for newly arrived refugees with urban farming
The City of Bergen has established a course for newly arrived refugees combining Norwegian language learning and learning skills farming in urban areas. This project has been especially aimed at refugees with a little formal education and maybe a background in farming. This project is a part of...
Inclusive Housing in Bergen
The city of Bergen offers again an excellent example of inclusive policies – in the case of housing specifically targeting refugees and newcomers. The city owns around 3 400 dwellings for social renting to particularly vulnerable people with low incomes. Within these, families are given priority....
Intercommunal mediation
Bergen has introduced many initiatives to achieve its mediation and conflict resolution policy objectives. The city has set up a generalist municipal mediation service which also deals with cultural conflicts. Bergen also provides mediation services in places such as neighbourhoods, on streets,...
Targeted Equality Data Initiatives
Provoking debate, enabling understanding and stimulating action through research on structural racism in Bergen
Purpose: This research initiative was undertaken by Bergen Municipality to establish how minority ethnic populations perceived the way they were treated by the city’s services and how they experienced living in Bergen. There was an interest to capture the narratives of minority ethnic people and...
The anti-radicalisation programme
In summer 2015 the government of Norway approved an anti-radicalisation action plan, in response to the information related to a number of Norwegians travelling to Syria as foreign fighters (among 50 and 100). The city of Bergen adopted its own anti-radicalisation action plan for the period...
The public library: a place for social dialogue
The public library of Bergen plays a key role in the inclusion of refugees and has a strong cooperation with the Introduction centre. It is a hub for cultural activities, provides books translated in several languages, as well as bilingual versions of famous Norwegian publications. Everyone can...
Trainee Vest: increasing diversity in business
Already in 2016, the city of Bergen has established a high level working group on increasing migrant participation in business and employment. The working group is made of political leaders, representatives from companies, the leader of the Chamber of commerce, the Director of the Norwegian...
Berlin
Berlin-Neukölln
Action! Karl-Marx-Straße
Action! Karl-Marx-Straße – ‘Young, Colourful, Successful’ is an ambitious €10 million urban regeneration programme for the main street in the borough. Whilst Karl-Marx-Straße is the buzzing heart of Neukölln with not only the Town Hall but also the ethnic retail economy, it currently feels tired...
Campus Rütli
The Rütli school had become notorious all over Germany in 2006, when the national press had reported a general climate of insecurity, as well as some incidents that had occurred within the school, with pupils allegedly threatening and attacking teachers and school staff. The school Rector had...
Un Conseil spécial consacré aux migrants vivant à Neukölln.
Conseil pour l’immigration de Berlin-Neukölln (« Migrationsbeirat »)
Berlin-Neukölln a créé une instance spécialement dédiée aux migrants qui vivent à Neukölln au sein de son conseil municipal : le Conseil pour l’immigration. Il représente les intérêts des migrants dans tous les domaines de la vie et encourage leur participation à la vie civile et politique. Cette...
Mediating between cultures and languages to promote intercultural integration in schools.
Interkulcultural Mediation at the Rixdorfer Primary School
Berlin-Neukölln supports the organisation “LebensWelt” (“Living Environment”) in its intercultural mediation project at the Rixdorfer Primary School in Neukölln, which is visited by 19 different nationalities and by many children with families that do not speak German or English. The...
Neukölln publishes "Normalising Integration - Living together in an intercultural metropolis"
"Normalising Integration - Living together in an intercultural metropolis" is both a comprehensive policy document and a set of principles of good governance that the district of Neukölln has adopted as an intercultural city. The concept was developed in a participative process including the...
Schilleria Girl´s Café - PolitTalk (Schilleria Mädchentreff)
The Schilleria Girl´s Café is addressed at girls and young women, most of whom have a migrant background and are socially and educationally disadvantaged. Due to the increasing success of right-wing parties and Europe-wide discrimination of Muslims, the girls involved urgently demanded to talk...
A calendar, in which various religious/cultural and international celebrations and holidays can co-exist.
The Intercultural Calendar
Together with the integration representatives of each Berlin district, Neukölln co-manages Berlin’s Intercultural Calendar that integrates the various holidays and fests celebrated in the city. First of all, in this calendar, the new year is celebrated several times, including not only the 31st...
A space for mothers from different backgrounds to share, learn and to pass onto their children.
Women in intercultural dialogue
Berlin-Neukölln supports the organisation “LebensWelt” (“Living Environment”) in its project “Frauen im interkulturellen Dialog” (“Women in intercultural dialogue”), offering a space for mothers from different backgrounds (including refugees and asylum-seekers) to come together and share their...
Bilbao
Anti-rumour toolkit for young people
In the framework of the Bilbao Anti-Rumour Strategy, a handbook with anti-rumour tools and exercises has been designed for working in classrooms with young people. Young people represent a priority target group of intervention in this project. However, it is necessary to have specific working...
Anti-Rumour Web App
The main metaphor used in the Bilbao communication campaign is the umbrella as a defence against rumours that fall from the sky. It has developed a short game, in two forms of a scratch card and a Web app, that can allow the user to assess whether they are ‘protected’ from or ‘drenched’ by...
Bilbao adopts its third Intercultural City Strategy
In December 2021 the City Council of Bilbao publicly presented its third Intercultural City Plan (ICP), containing 83 specific actions and new tools to reinforce transversality and participation. Resulting from a participatory process, the ICP is divided into 10 mainstream areas and 6 sectoral...
Bilbao, City of Values
In 2016, the city of Bilbao launched the project “Bilbao, City of Values”. This action came from the Department of Citizen Services, Participation and Districts and aims to build an intercultural and open society. The main purpose is to share the value framework within the city. Bilbao, City of...
Creative anti-rumour writing
In 2017, within the framework of the city anti-Rumour strategy (ARS), a creative anti-rumour writing initiative has been developed to involve the local community in the implementation of the ARS strategy. In Bilbao, many people are fond of creative writing; this has been used to connect the...
Local Council of immigration
The Local Council of Immigration is a collegial body that has consultative and informative natures. It has the vocation of guaranteeing the democratic participation of immigrant associations and their interaction with other agents involved in the development and promotion of the integration and...
Local Forum for religious diversity
Since 2012, the Local forum for religious diversity promotes the exercise of freedom of conscience and religion in a context of citizens’ coexistence in diversity and in human rights’ promotion. The project is a forum for dialogue and meetings between representatives of the Consistory and the...
Local plan for citizenship and diversity
During 2017, the II Local Plan for Citizenship and Diversity was approved by the Local Government Board and contains therein the municipal intervention strategy planned for the next three years. Approved by the City of Bilbao, this plan has been designed taking into account the areas of...
Sustainable and inclusive tourism to foster participation and sense of belonging
Sustainable and inclusive tourism could be a powerful way to safeguard citizens well-being during touristic routes, promote unknown areas and neighbourhoods, provide opportunities for employment of migrants, and promote intercultural interaction. These are some of the goals pursued by the cities...
Women, Health and Violence
This programme seeks to empower migrant women in Bilbao through the promotion of health and the prevention of gender-based violence. It aims to fight against the multiple discrimination to which migrant women in Bilbao are subjected. There are two complementary pillars to building these bridges...
Borlänge
Botkyrka
Anti-Discrimination Bureaux
Concept Local Anti-Discrimination Bureaux assist people who experience discrimination. They are independent non-governmental organisations that explain their rights to people, assist them to make a complaint, or refer them to the necessary institution. In Botkyrka, the municipal council stands...
Council for civil society development
Civil society organizations working in the social field and organised in the network “Platform for local NGOs’ in Botkyrka”, and politicians from Botkyrka have established a joint Council for civil society development with the main objective to create a forum for intercultural dialogue between...
Creative city of Fittja (Kreativ stadsmiljö Fittja)
From 2019 until 2022 Botkyrka will implement the programme “Creative city of Fittaj”, aiming to improve security and safety in vulnerable areas of the city by opening up public spaces and making them more attractive through using their vivid culture and intercultural interaction to improve the...
Equality Planning
Concept The municipal council in Botkyrka has developed specific systems to advance the goal of an equal Botkyrka and give expression to its values that include: citizen-focus, diversity as an asset, staff competence, flexibility and adaptability of organisation, and commitment to realising...
Förskolan Örnen
Förskolan Örnen (Eagle Primary Schaool), in Alby on the fringes of Stockholm, has 130 pupils, 99% of whom have Swedish as a second language . It has a very deliberate philosophy rooted in respect for human rights and democracy and principles of transculturalism inspired by the work of the...
Mångkulturellt Centre, Fittja
The Multicultural Centre is a municipal foundation engaged in research, education and cultural activities. The ambitions and goals of the centre is to study and promote a society where diversity is reflected in Sweden’s national self-image and where migration is a natural part of the Swedish...
Research Circles
Concept A research circle is a methodology to enable in-depth, participative, and longer-term examination of an issue. It was piloted in Botkyrka to examine issues of racism and discrimination, in 2013. A research circle brings together a set group of residents, from various groups and areas,...
What does it mean to be an intercultural competent city?
After almost 60 years of migration, many Swedish citizens who have been living in the country for generations are still considered as temporary guests or not fully members of the Swedish society. The understanding of what and who the Swedish society really should include needs to change....
Women in Botkyrka
The action is based on the city’s intercultural strategy focusing on foreign- born women as a special target group in need of structural reforms to become a part of the labour- and/or educational markets. The primary focus is on empowering women. The responsibility for enabling the entrance of...
Bradford
"Citizen Coin Bradford"
The city of Bradford (United Kingdom) has developed a project called “Citizen Coin Bradford” as part of the “Stronger Communities Partnership’s Strategy and Delivery plan” as one of its goals to increase civic participation. This means getting more people from all backgrounds to connect with...
Bradford for Everyone or how to create a more inclusive city for all
Bradford Council is pioneering new ways to end segregation by bringing together people of different ethnic and religious backgrounds in schools, workplaces and shared public spaces. Spearheading this effort is the innovative Bradford for Everyone programme, which serves both as a laboratory for...
Bradford launched its “People Library”
Bradford’s People Library is an ever-growing and fascinating collection of human ‘books’, all with their own interesting, surprising and inspirational stories to tell. Showcasing both the diversity and commonality within the district, they build a library of resilience, community, achievements...
Fans for diversity: inclusion through a community of football supporters
A Bradford City Football supporters group, the Bangla Bantams, is leading the way in the United Kingdom in increasing diversity and inclusion of all football fans, strengthening ties and creating positive change in the community. The BEAP Community Centre (a community partnership) and Bradford...
Fostering local innovation project
Led by the Bradford City Council, United Kingdom, the 'Bradford for Everyone' programme, has funded a number of small-scale projects which aim to address both interculturalism and improve environmental conditions. The funding is delegated through the "Innovation Fund”. The programme focuses on...
Roma Strategy for the Bradford District (2021-2025)
The aim of the Bradford District Roma Strategy is to improve engagement between statutory public services and the Roma community – through working with the community. The first step was to map the existing provision for the Roma community and identify gaps though a robust and thorough asset-based...
Shared Values
Concept Values were identified as key by Bradford Council given how they underpin and motivate behaviours. They are central to the culture of organisations and to how people in the community think about behaviours, and make decisions and choices. Dialogue organised within local communities...
Stronger communities – The Schools Linking Network
Bradford works with primary, secondary and special schools in localities that have been identified as having segregated communities. Through a carefully planned and research-led approach, underpinned by Social Contact Theory, the city support teachers to facilitate meaningful and positive...
Supporting social interaction and environmentally solutions for buildings with data platform
In Bradford, Yeme Architects design buildings that are green and aim to also encourage communities to thrive and mix. Through a ‘Community Data’ platform, they seek to use technology to rejuvenate social interaction within the built environment and find environmentally sustainable solutions for...
The Inclusive Employer
Concept Bradford Council has over 8,000 employees and seeks to be an inclusive employer. It is working with Grant Thornton, a private sector company, to apply a tool developed and successfully implemented by Grant Thornton, the Inclusion Maturity Model, to establish the current standing of...
The inclusive employers toolkit
In Bradford (United Kingdom), the accountancy and consulting firm Grant Thornton have developed an Inclusive Employers Toolkit in partnership with the local authority. This aims to help local employers to become more inclusive by providing them with a method for self-evaluation, including clear...
Together for Stronger Communities
Bradford has developed its Intercultural Strategy (Together for Stronger Communities 2018-2023) and the corresponding action plan after extensive consultation with citizens. The consultation was both quantitative and qualitative and involved the use of the following methods: 1. Bord tables for...
Braga
(Re)Writing our neighbourhood
(Re)Writing our neighbourhood is a 3 year project to be implemented in three neighbourhoods in the city of Braga, Portugal. In addition to the physical improvement of the social housing neighbourhoods of Enguardas, Santa Tecla and Picoto, the project will integrate 8 measures to be implemented in...
DiverCidade – An Intercultural Trip
The City of Braga, Portugal, has created a specific website to present the city’s intercultural strategy and activities. The website aims to make the city’s commitment towards diversity public, to inform all citizens of the public local policies and projects in place, as well as to promote...
Human Library in Schools : Educate for a DiverCity
Within the project "Braga: an Intercultural Journey", Human Library sessions are promoted in the schools of the municipality, until December 2021. The Human Library is a strategy of social innovation: it aims to promote dialogue and respect for human rights, and to combat stereotypes. The "Books"...
Bucharest
Intercultural mediation
Intercultural mediation is a priority for the Multicultural Integration Service. To achieve good results, thematic training modules on the topic will be arranged for both the staff of the Integration Service and other departments. The trainings will be organised in partnership with the...
Calderdale
Carrying out an Inclusive Economy Strategy for social and environmental value
Calderdale, United Kingdom, has committed to social value creation through its Inclusive Economy Strategy. All its procurement activity must be in line with social value requirements and organisational key targets which includes: 1) addressing the climate emergency, 2) reducing inequalities and...
Everyone different, Everyone matters
In Calderdale (United Kingdom), the local authority has led the development of a social cohesion strategy, produced in consultation with the local public, under the banner of ‘everyone different, everyone matters’. This sets out a clear understanding of why the issue matters in the local area,...
Utilising waste land to build community, local resilience, and employment
The largest employer in one of the most deprived areas of Calderdale, United Kingdom, is a voluntary organisation that has created a green kitchen building in a community garden on a piece of wasteland. The building is a straw bale structure, and the garden grows food. From this facility, they...
Camden
'No-one gets left behind': the guideline of Camden Council’s communication strategy
Camden Council has a communication strategy to improve the visibility and image of people with migrant/minority backgrounds in the local media and the communication department is instructed to highlight diversity as an advantage regularly and in various types of communication. One of Camden's...
A better involvement of parents with migrant/minority backgrounds in school life
Camden schools make efforts to frequently involve parents, including with migrant/minority backgrounds in school life, both to support parents and to encourage the sharing of culture. Some examples are: Richard Cobden School Parents’ Survey. Rhyl School which has a dedicated Parent Family...
Camden’s Faith Leaders’ Forum: when religions meet to work together
The Camden council supports Camden’s Faith Leaders’ Forum which aims to bring together different religious groups to celebrate the place of faith communities. The Forum: identifies areas of common interest in civic life where faith communities may work together to the benefit of the wider...
Camden’s residents and the authorities building together a safe and welcoming borough
Camden has been carrying out surveys on the feeling of security/safety with respect to people with migrant/minority backgrounds. The Council has a community lead response to supporting communities and conversations with a diverse range of residents about their experiences of safety, a good...
Conscious Inclusion
Concept Camden Council has adopted a process of ‘Conscious Inclusion’ to ensure all staff ‘can be their best self at work’. The approach taken involves a focus on leadership, staff, and systems in the Council. A Conscious Inclusion Statement was published with specific commitments to action in...
Covid-19 Working Group
Concept Camden Council has a track record in seeking to address systemic discrimination and structural inequalities. This is not a new issue for the Council, but Covid-19 has both highlighted and exacerbated it. The Black Lives Matter movement is credited with amplifying energies in the Council...
Cultural projects reflecting and promoting the diversity of Camden’s communities
Culture is at the centre of Camden Council’s work. It aims to deliver inspiring arts projects on Camden’s estates and neighbourhoods that are co-created, engage with the most disadvantaged residents, celebrate and showcase the unique personality of its communities, help to build community...
Gender equality: voices of the women in Camden
Camden Council put in place mechanisms to make sure that gender equality is respected in organisations that participate in the decision-making process on matters related to the inclusion of Camden residents with migrant/minority backgrounds. On a yearly basis, Camden Council celebrates...
Information sharing with civil society and grassroots organisations on intercultural inclusion goals
Camden collaborates with civil society and grassroots organisations that are active in the various fields concerned by intercultural inclusion, through regular meetings but also information sharing on intercultural inclusion goals. Indeed, like a lot of London boroughs, it relies on partnership...
Integrating and supporting the ethnic minorities in Camden’s businesses
Camden takes action to encourage businesses from ethnic minorities to move beyond the ethnic economy and enter the mainstream economy and higher value-added sectors. Good Work Camden has partnered with the Rebel Business School, an alternative to traditional business start-up support which aims...
Involvement of Camden’s communities in its urban planning
Camden always takes into account the diversity of the population in the design, renovation and management of new public buildings or spaces. The Camden Local Plan (2017) is the key strategic document in Camden’s development plan. It sets out the vision for shaping the future of the Borough and...
Music as a tool for promoting interculturality in Camden’s schools
Teachers in elementary/primary schools receive training in intercultural communication and pedagogy. For example, the Camden Music Service arranged a session for school music teachers and instrumental tutors on decolonising the curriculum, followed by a series of conversations. Camden is looking...
Participatory mechanisms and initiatives encouraging all Camden residents to engage in political life and decision-making processes
Camden Council services work in a range of ways that enable all of Camden’s residents, in particular people with migrant/minority backgrounds, to voice their concerns, examples are: Communication via Tenant Participation Officers who work closely with tenants within Camden’s housing estates....
Providing intercultural mediation in Camden: an efficient tool for a harmonious life in the borough
In Camden, intercultural mediation is provided in the neighbourhoods and on the streets actively seeking to meet residents and discuss problems. The Family Group Conference (FGC) offers a strength-based way of working that aspires to recognise and utilise the strengths of all people, at the...
Public spaces: hubs for intercultural mixing and bridges between communities
Camden takes action to encourage meaningful intercultural mixing and interaction in public spaces such as public libraries, museums and parks among others. Library spaces were transformed into community hubs, creating ‘living room’ spaces which encourage different sections of the community to...
Raising awareness on and giving a positive image of migrant/minority languages
Camden Council offers support to raise awareness on migrant/minority languages. It namely provides guidance and information on specific issues in a variety of community languages such as Covid-19 related info, as well as offers access to British Sign Language for key services for residents. In...
Recruitment practices in favour of diversity in the workforce
Camden is involved with many local, regional and national organisations promoting diversity and non-discrimination in the labour market, including: Stonewall, a charity that works with institutions to create inclusive and accepting cultures for LGBTQ+ people. Camden had entered the Equality Index...
Supporting marginalised workers through a holistic fashion business model
In London (UK), the Birdsong company committed to produce garments using 100% natural or reclaimed fibres. By manufacturing ethically, locally and with sustainable fabrics like bamboo, Tencel, organic cotton, hand-woven fairly traded Khadi (from women’s co-operatives in India) and reclaimed...
‘Camden Together’: celebrating cultural diversity
‘Camden Together’ was a borough-wide initiative which took place from July to October 2021 to celebrate the reopening of culture for residents and Londoners. Residents and community groups were attracted to activities in neighbourhoods across Camden as part of the borough’s cultural, social and...
Cartagena
Casalecchio di Reno
Intercultural Week – X Edition
INCONTRI DI MOnDI – X EDITION was born and is developing within the intercultural strategy of Casalecchio di Reno Municipality. The initiative, that is renewed every year since 2009, consists in a week of conferences, shows, educational meetings, workshops and events, all connected by the common...
Cascais
Arts bring people together
Arts have the uncanny ability to overcome cultural and ethnic differences: art is like a universal language that brings people together. Cascais has an extraordinary art projects to prove this power. Muraliza is a Mural Art Festival that takes place every summer since 2014 and lasts for nine...
Diverse interaction on display in Cascais
The Municipality of Cascais, Portugal has created a webpage to share the stories of persons with migrant backgrounds who are residing in the city. Any group of two or more persons where one of the participants is born in Cascais and the other person is not can share their stories on the website....
DNA Cascais: a creative approach to promote entrepreneurship
DNA Cascais is a non-profit association that aims to contribute to the promotion, encouragement and development of entrepreneurship, with a special focus on promoting young and social entrepreneurship in the Municipality of Cascais. The agency, over the last 10 years, has supported the creation...
Surf and Bodyboard boost self-trust
Cascais regularly organises intercultural activities not only to encourage social cohesion but also to help young people to improve their self-appreciation and self-esteem. The first project called “Surf.Art” is an experimental project that, through the practice of Surfing and contact with...
The Counsellor for Gender Equality
The “Conselheira para a Igualdade” (Counsellor for Equality) is a person of reference appointed by the Cascais City Council to defend equality. In 1998, the city adhered to the challenge launched by the then Commission for Equality and Women's Rights (now CIG: Commission for Citizenship and...
Castellón de la Plana
Castelló Intercultural City Plan
As part of the actions of the Council of Social Welfare – Social Mediation and Intercultural Department, the city of Castelló de la Plana launched the project of “Castelló Intercultural City Plan”, with a focus on the integration, mediation and conflict resolution as well as Anti-Rumours. The...
Catania
Copenhagen
The Danish Centre for Arts & Interculture (DCAI)
DCAI acts as a ‘centre of the mind’ or think-tank for the intercultural transformation of the cultural sector, rather than as a physical public space of meeting, although it is housed in a centre of global culture and world music. Its aim is to create a national platform which reflects the...
Three year plans for Integration
Engage in Copenhagen was a three year inclusion program, designed to function as a catalyst for the City of Copenhagen’s new inclusion policy and vision for the city, from 2011-2014 The goal of Engage in Copenhagen program was to start a number of initiatives with the common aim of making...
Donostia-San Sebastian
A comprehensive intercultural approach in the schools
“Ongi etorri eskolara!” is a programme running since 2014 in several schools of Donostia-San Sebastián. Its objective is to collaborate in the inclusion of families from other countries, starting from the school community, as well as to raise awareness among all school agents about the...
A partnership with the civil society to monitoring how media portray diversity
In Donostia/San Sebastian, SOS Racismo develops several educational projects and awareness-raising activities, a good part of which is supported by the municipality, such as: The Berdin project, used to identify areas in which discrimination happens, such as housing rentals, labour market, etc.;...
Casa de las Mujeres (Women’s House)
The Women’s House comes from the local feminist movement in 2010, and it has been built through a long participatory process with the women organisations of the city. The House is co-managed by the local administration and women’s entities organised via an umbrella association called “Casa de las...
Cultural Diversity in the San Sebastian School Agenda 21
During the 2017-2018 school year, around 15,000 students from 28 schools in San Sebastian participated in the Agenda 21 School programme, which this year was dedicated to the study of Cultural Diversity. Through different activities, students have been able to discover what cultural diversity is,...
House of Peace and Human Rights, & Eskuraination and equality
The House of Peace and Human Rights is located in the Aiete Palace. The building was the former summer residence of the dictator General Franco, and since 2010, it hosts different local departments and entities devoted to promote education and awareness on human rights and peace processes. The...
Möbius
San Sebastian is constructing a new building which could be used by different faith groups separately or together, located in the university grounds, to provide a symbolic representation of interfaith principles. This had been created as part of the European Capital of Culture celebrations by...