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.
Culture Camp in Vinnytsia
Impact: A five-day international culture camp was held in Vinnytsia from 27 to 31 July 2021 in the city’s Peoples' Friendship Park. More than a hundred schoolkids, aged 8 to 17, were introduced to...
Units for Homeless - an inspiring action from Patras, Greece
Purpose: The purpose of these structures is to provide reception, daily living care, immediate health assistance, and psychosocial support to individuals and families facing homelessness or...
Empowering Roma Students
Purpose: The purpose of the collaboration between the Social Organisation of the Municipality of Patras and the University of Patras is to address the educational inequality and marginalization...
The Sherbrooke Intercultural Encounters Week (SSRI), an annual event for intercultural dialogue and understanding
This week is a great opportunity to encourage intercultural dialogue and understanding between Sherbrooke residents of all backgrounds and origins. Each year, a wide range of free activities are...
“The thousand faces of Sherbrooke”: a project to emphasise the plural reality and the diversity of the city
In order to make its plural reality visible, valued and recognised, Sherbrooke collaborated with the Humans of Sherbrooke collective to initiate the inspiring project "The thousand faces of...
The public library: a place for social dialogue
Purpose: The Public Library of Bergen aims to facilitate a learning hub centred around language and intercultural meetings between Norwegian residents and new-comers. Stimulus/Rationale: The...
Place based cultural development within Kirklees – focus on textiles and music
Purpose: The City of Kirklees launched place based cultural development running from 2018 until 2023, dealing with public spaces and community engagement through arts and culture. It aims to...
Il Centro per i giovani – an intercultural, educational project
Purpose: Working with and for new generations is a priority for the Intercultural Centre of the City of Turin. That is why – back in 2009 - the city has launched “Il centro per i giovani” (the...
Intercultural Council of Limassol
Purpose: The purpose of the Limassol Intercultural Council is to foster inclusive integration and promote intercultural understanding within the city of Limassol. By bringing together...
Ongi Etorri Eskolara!
Purpose: The programme aims at: Mainstreaming an intercultural approach in schools, by valuing the different cultures present at the school and by working with all the school actors, from directors...
Welcoming guide - communication
Purpose: In order to further enhance the work on Welcoming, and to encourage a positive perception of diversity and a participatory approach to citizenship, the municipality of Amadora has prepared...
Evaluation of the City of Geneva's diversity policy for the period 2016-2020
The City of Geneva publishes the results of the evaluation of its diversity policy for the period 2016-2020. Geneva is unlike any other of the cities which are member of the Intercultural Cities...
Valuing multilingualism
Purpose: The city of Sabadell provides a variety of services in the field of language competences. First, there are programmes targeting women and youngsters to improve language skills. In...
Anti-rumour toolkit for young people
Purpose: This manual aims to provide a specific response to professional teams (educators, teachers, tutors, etc.) who work with young people in order to be able to develop anti-Rumour actions and...
Diversity-Day
Purpose: Promote diversity within organisations and societies Process: At the initiative of the Diversity Charter, “Diversity Day” was launched in 2013 and since then has taken place annually in...
Urban Parks
Purpose: Urban space creation for intercultural mixing (as a result of international cooperation) Stimulus/Rationale: Odesa joined the ICC-Ukraine network in 2017 but its policies have been always...
Centre of language and literacy
Purpose: Centre of language and literacy is run by the Department of Education and Youth of the City of Reykjavik and implemented in co-operation with the Mother Tongue association. The main...
CLAIM – Migrant Integration Local Support Centre
Purpose: Foster the intercultural integration of migrants through the provision of support and information on several areas. The Local Centre for Migrant Integration (CLAIM) mission intends to go...
The Intercultural Week of Portimão
Purpose: The Intercultural week was envisioned to promote the sharing of experiences and the relationships between diverse citizens of Portimão, thus stimulating intercultural dialogue and raising...
Extraordinary Reception Centres
Purpose: The municipality’s management of the CAS aims at improving the quality level of the reception of asylum seekers. Stimulus/Rationale: The municipality’s management of the CAS aims at...
Tachles: Arab-Jewish Youth Club
Create a shared civic leadership while also bringing together diverse cultures. Tachles is a unique group in Haifa that brings together 150 Arab and Jewish teenagers, incorporating various groups...
Community – Police relationship
Mediation and conflict Resolution The goal of the programme is to increase the feeling of security among Haifa’s more vulnerable residents and neighbourhoods and to improve the police force’s...
Haifa Center for Dialogue and Conflict Management
Mediation and conflict resolution, capacity-building The Haifa Centre for Dialogue and Conflict Management works to strengthen communities and improve the quality of life for all of Haifa’s...
Refugee reception and integration policies- pilot project
Purpose: The purpose of the pilot project for Refugee reception was to offer answers to questions about how intercultural integration and reception should be handled in the city in order to promote...
Together in the same direction (Juntas en la misma dirección)
Purpose: ‘Together in the same direction’ is a strategy for managing diversity that brings rigour and clarity to the actions to be implemented. This Strategic Plan also defines three main lines of...
Diverse Tenerife – Intercultural Strategy
Purpose: ‘Tenerife Lives Diversity’ is a strategic framework aimed at serving as a reference point for public administrations, associations and the citizens of the island of Tenerife, assisting...
OBITen - The Immigration Observatory of Tenerife
Purpose: The OBITen promoting scientific research into migratory movements on the island of Tenerife. It prioritises the need to apply theoretical knowledge to the planning and management of...
Grupo de Diálogo Interreligioso (Group of Interfaith dialogue)
Purpose: The group of interfaith dialogue promotes spirituality through knowledge and understanding of different beliefs and religious or spiritual developments with a learning attitude. The...
Maribyrnong - Regeneration with a Focus on the Holistic Community
Stimulus/Rationale: The City of Maribyrnong is within the municipality of Melbourne, Australia, and is one of the most multicultural municipalities in Victoria. It aims to be an ‘Intercultural...
Intercultural Interaction: collective healing and memory of this time
Purpose: Using storytelling to build connections, address fears and ease anxiety. Stimulus/Rationale: In 2020 the Cities of Ballarat, Melton and Maribyrnong launched a Storytelling project...
Statistics in help of city’s policy formulation
Purpose: The City of Salisbury’s Council policy formulation is heavily informed by demographic statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Stimulus/Rationale: Quantitative and qualitative...
Sister and Friendship City Policy
Purpose: The Australian City of Salisbury has an explicit policy to encourage international cooperation in the economic, scientific, cultural and other areas. Process: The “Sister City and...
Salisbury develops inclusive welcoming and participation actions
Purpose: The “Welcome to Salisbury Information Booklet” and the “Community Engagement Framework” improves the intercultural profile of the Australian city. Process: The comprehensive city-specific...
Public Participation Networks (PPN)
Purpose: A Network to enhance community participation in local government - Promotes social inclusion - Links citizens with local authorities Stimulus/Rationale: Public Participation Networks (PPN)...
Community Grants
Purpose: Encourage citizens’ participation and involvement in the city through access to public grants for community projects Process: Community Development is a process where community members...
Residents’ participation shows meaningful community engagement
Purpose: Salisbury seeks the participation of all residents through community workshops and surveys Process: The adoption of the Intercultural Strategic Plan 2017-2027 of the City of Salisbury was...
The Diversity Lab
Purpose: The municipality launched the Diversity Lab programme to explore the advantages of cultural diversity, with reference to new plural economies and open innovation processes. An...
Auckland’s Research and Monitoring Unit
Purpose: Assisting policy development in Auckland through environmental, social, economic and cultural research. Stimulus/Rationale: The Research and Evaluation Unit, RIMU part of Auckland...
An ‘Integrated Area Plan’
Purpose: Auckland Council engages with South Auckland’s communities to prepare for future developments in their area. Stimulus/Rationale: When proposing a change, Auckland Council partners with...
The Champions for Change Network
A network of committed senior leaders across New Zealand, advocating and promoting the diversity advantage in the wider business community. Many of Auckland’s senior leaders are part of the...
Erlangen-Nürnberg: University enables access to education for refugees
Purpose: A database to protect private data and speed up the stream of information between different departments. Stimulus/Rationale: In 2015, four times as many people fled to Europe from their...
The Successful Roma of Pavlohrad
Purpose: Integration of Roma population into the city's social life; encouraging Roma community, fighting negative stereotypes. Stimulus/Rationale: Pavlohrad has a large community of Roma people,...
A pioneer plan to combat Islamophobia
Purpose: The City Council of Barcelona adopted a plan to prevent hate crimes, raise awareness and provide victim support services. The Plan aims at raising awareness on Islamophobia as a serious...
Intercultural Education as a part of a School Curriculum
Purpose: To teach school kids values of tolerance, respect to different cultures, and ethnic conflicts prevention Process: In 2017, Sumy school #18 officially established intercultural education as...
Households welcome migrants!
Purpose: The initiative is as an experiment of social innovation aimed at strengthening local community resilience: some of the migrants hosted in the City had the possibility of completing their...
Intercultural Map of Melitopol
Process: One out of five main dimensions of the ICC Strategy of Melitopol is intercultural tourism and hospitality. It is along the lines of this dimension that the local ICC coordinator launched...
Educa programme
Purpose: To create a group of immigrant or immigrant descendent mediators (giving them training and support) in order to develop activities of animation and mediation in contexts signalled by the...
Peer-to-Peer Project Addiction Aid for Refugees
Purpose: Drug prevention for refugees Stimulus/Rationale: Process: The project targets refugees and provides training in drug prevention and addiction aid. The training programme is elaborated...
Participation Scheme
Purpose: Working in partnership and residents’ consultations are at the core of Swansea’s way of planning and evaluating policies. Process: In Swansea priorities, plans, budget, social services,...
Supporting Culturally Diverse NGOs
Purpose: Support culturally diverse NGO to enhance participation of migrants, ethnic minorities and local citizens in the life of the city and to mainstream the intercultural approach. Process: The...
Career counselling for SPRAR beneficiaries
Purpose: The action aims to analyse the working background of refugees and asylum seekers taken in charge by the SPRAR programme and to give them useful information and advice for the job search....
Workshops, books, exhibitions, music, theater, workshops and sports against racism
Purpose: The Week stimulated a process of confrontation and exchange aimed at preventing and combating phenomena of intolerance, discrimination and racism. Stimulus/Rationale: On the occasion of...
Italy - Learn Arabic!
Purpose: This is a project in collaboration with the Local Health Authorities to improve linguistic cultural relations between foreign citizens and health services. Stimulus/Rationale: In 2011 the...
Muraliza - Mural Art Festival
Purpose: Arts overcome cultural and ethnic differences bringing people together - A project that reshapes the historic centre of the city Arts have the uncanny ability to overcome cultural and...
The International Cultural Network of Stavanger
Purpose: The International Cultural Network (INK) is an organization running in Stavanger whose main goal is to encourage social cohesion and inclusion. INK was founded in 1982 and now has almost...
OXLO - Oslo Extra Large. A long-term city-wide awareness-raising campaign for diversity
Purpose: OXLO - Oslo Extra Large is a long-term awareness-raising campaign initiated by the Mayor of Oslo. Through this campaign the City of Oslo is striving to make Norway’s capital a more...
OMOD - Scrutinizing Oslo public services through an intercultural lens
Purpose: OMOD Center for Social Justice is a volunteer organization against institutional discrimination that provides information, advice, and assistance to organisations in the area of race...
The Next Door Family
Purpose: The project “Bizilagunak: La Familia de al lado” gathers migrant families and Basque families together. The project operates on a local area, focusing on building relations among families...
Todos – Walk of Cultures
Purpose: To celebrate Lisbon as an intercultural city, promoting intercultural and interreligious dialogue Stimulus/Rationale: A nomadic festival of intercultural festival which reintegrates...
Refugee Welcome and Integration Network
Purpose: On 24 May 2017, the City Council of Cartagena (Murcia - Spain) launched the Refugee Welcome and Integration Network to address the needs of refugees and asylum seekers in the municipality,...
Building interfaith partnerships
Purpose: The project, led by the municipality’s urban planning and architecture department, aims firstly at identifying and mapping the presence of different religious communities. The action goes...
Somalia Bandy
Purpose: The purpose is to use sports as a means for social integration of young Somali refugees, especifically the ice hockey form Bandy. Stimulus/Rationale: The team was set up by a local...
Fargespil (Kaleidoscope)
Purpose: To foster experiences of both alikeness and the richness of diversity by bringing different young actors representing different national music and dance traditions together in a musical...
Designing intercultural public space
Purpose: Involving the whole community in shaping the future of Lewisham’s open space. Stimulus/Rationale: In 2006-7 the Borough of Lewisham conducted research into public attitudes. Residents...
Mångkulturellt Centre, Fittja
A diversity research and popular dissemination centre with local and international scope The Multicultural Centre is a municipal foundation engaged in research, education and cultural activities....
LUCIDE
A network of cities seeking to develop ideas about how to manage multilingual citizen communities LUCIDE is a network seeks to develop ideas about how to manage multilingual citizen communities....
Opening Doors: The Logan Police/Ethnic Communities Partnerships Project
Building trust between police and ethnic minority communities Logan City was growing rapidly and overseas migration and there was concern that levels of trust between young migrants and the Police...
Neighbourhood Pacts
Purpose: The goal of this initiative is to adopt consultative and participatory methods with all residents, users and property owners, in order to develop a strategic plan of the City for physical,...
The value of a city Integration Charter
Erlangen sets out its values and principles The City of Erlangen is becoming more and more multicultural and, today, about the 34% of its inhabitants have a migration background. In order to...
NEUCHÀTOI
A community conducts a dynamic open discussion of its evolving identity Neuchàtoi is an ongoing campaign and dialogue platform to create an open discussion of how the city of Neuchâtel is evolving...
“Zambujal Gets Better!” - project
Ethnic mixing and skills development as part of a general rejuvenation of a city district Purpose: The Programme “Zambujal Gets Better” was brought into life in partnership with the Municipality of...
Norwegian Center for Multicultural Value Creation
Purpose: Oslo City Council’s Office for Business Development has taken an active stance on integrating minority businesses through The Norwegian Center for Multicultural Value Creation, which is...
The Human Rights Film Festival
Purpose: The Human Rights Film Festival is an initiative that uses the power of the cinema to promote a culture of peace and respect for human rights, becoming a great agent of social change. The...
Increasing awareness about Islam and reducing anti-Muslim stereotypes
Purpose: “Interpretation of Surahs of the Quran” is an initiative aimed to dismantle stereotypes about Islam and the Muslim world in general, to build a peaceful intercultural society in Ukrainian...
Interkulcultural Mediation at the Rixdorfer Primary School
Purpose: Mediating between cultures and languages to promote intercultural integration at schools Stimulus/Rationale: Process: Berlin-Neukölln supports the organisation “LebensWelt” (“Living...
The Intercultural Calendar
Purpose: A calendar for different religious, cultural and international celebrations Stimulus/Rationale: Process: Together with the integration representatives of each Berlin district, Neukölln...
Women in intercultural dialogue
Purpose: A space for mothers from different background to share, learn and to pass onto their children. Stimulus/Rationale: Process: Berlin-Neukölln supports the organisation “LebensWelt” (“Living...
World Interfaith Harmony Week
Purpose: Foster Interreligious dialogue. Stimulus/Rationale: The week especially provides a platform for interfaith groups and other groups of goodwill to demonstrate and share their work. Based on...
OXLO Business Charter - making migrants visible as a resource for business and economic growth
Purpose: Launched in 2013 at the Oslo Global Mobility Forum, the OXLO Business Charter is a forum and a network for the collaboration between the city and the business community, making migrants...
A road map to promote egalitarian government open to diversity
This roadmap is an unprecedented step in Switzerland and is designed not only to combat discrimination but to capitalise on diversity proactively so as to create a climate fostering creativity and...
Mediation panel – a low threshold mediation service for complaints on discrimination
Purpose: The mediation panel organised by the Norwegian Peoples Aid is a service where victims of discrimination can present their complaints, get advice, and engage in dialogue through mediation...
Gender-based analysis plus (GBA+)
refers to the notion of intersectionality. It means that, in addition to gender-differentiated analysis, it is important to consider needs and differentiated effects in the light of other...
Bergen – a safe city for LGBTI refugees and citizens with migrant background
Purpose: As part of the plan The Rainbow City of Bergen: Plan for gender and sexual diversity 2023-2027, the city of Bergen includes information about the importance of taking responsibility for...
The Montreal Intercultural Council
The Montreal Intercultural Council (CiM) advises, and issues opinions to, the City Council and the executive committee on all issues of interest to the cultural communities and on any another...
Urban Working Group (UWG) of Epirus
Purpose: The purpose of the Urban Working Group (UWG) is to facilitate effective coordination and collaboration among various stakeholders involved in refugee management in the Epirus region of...
Auckland’s support for its diverse entrepreneurs
Purpose: Programmes, competitions and spaces that encourage innovation and collaboration amongst Aucklanders from all kinds of backgrounds. Stimulus/Rationale: Tātaki Auckland Unlimited 's diverse...
#iorispetto: active citizenship against discrimination
Purpose: #IORISPETTO promoted society, young people and students’ awareness of a culture of human rights and the principles of fairness and justice, together with an understanding of the mechanisms...
The Welcoming Communities Initiative
Purpose: A joint central and local government programme implemented by councils across New Zealand to welcome newcomers. Stimulus/Rationale: Auckland Council, ATEED (now Tātaki Auckland Unlimited)...
The Leeds City Region Diversity Dashboard
The Leeds City Region Diversity Dashboard is a project by the Leeds Inclusive Anchors Network. Leeds Inclusive Anchors Network is a group of the city’s largest (mainly) public sector employers....
Intercultural mediation to promote living together
Purpose: The overall objective is the promotion of mediation as a mechanism of alternative conflict resolution that will help to foster peaceful and inclusive cohabitation in the municipality of...
Capacity building on diversity: City staff and Police
Purpose: The training of the staff of this City Council is seen as a tool for raising awareness, as it contributes to broadening knowledge, tools and resources aimed at effectively managing...
Welcoming and social inclusion of newcomers in the city
Purpose: Valladolid promotes social inclusion and respect of the human rights of asylum-seekers and migrant people living in the city. Besides guaranteeing the reception of newcomers, the Council...
Gender-responsive budgeting to improve the impact of public policies on gender equality
Purpose: Gender-responsive budgeting allows for better consideration of the impact of public policies on gender equality. In the long run, it will allow for a sustainable and transversal...
Art-therapy in Lutsk
Purpose: Providing psychological relief to internally displaced children and helping them coping with the stress and challenges derived from Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine....
Generational Dialog
Purpose: The project aims to create a better basis for communication between generations (i.e., between “second-generation” children born and living in a foreign country and parents that migrated...
Botkyrka: Anti-Rumour Cafés – Stop the Rumour
Purpose: The Anti-Rumours Cafés, now called Stop The Rumour (Stop Ryktet) and are carried out for the municipality of Botkyrka by the environmental and social impact agency The Good Tribe that set...
Salisbury’s strong effort in the educational sphere
Purpose: The regular intercultural projects carried out by Salisbury’s schools highlight the intercultural nature of the City. Process: Great examples of this effort are the programmes “Community...
Salisbury shows its intercultural commitment with a public declaration and a Strategic Plan
Purpose: The Australian City of Salisbury has shown its intercultural commitment through a public declaration and the adoption of an Intercultural Strategic Plan for the period 2017 -2027. Process:...
Salisbury’s Intercultural Strategic Plan 2017-2027 encourages the intercultural exchanges
Purpose: The Intercultural Strategic Plan includes the idea to: “encourage intercultural exchanges”. This idea is supported via actions in the Implementation Plan and is manifested through the...
Ciga Giro Project
The Ciga Giro Project – People and Identities, Answers and Options is a social intervention, in the municipality of Vila Verde, focusing on the fight against the social segregation of the Roma...