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.
The Welcome App
Germany
Erlangen
2016 onwards
Purpose: An App to help refugees organising their everyday lives in Germany - Helps overcoming the language barrier - Provides information regarding asylum law Stimulus/Rationale: A considerable...
The Sherbrooke Intercultural Encounters Week (SSRI), an annual event for intercultural dialogue and understanding
Canada
Sherbrooke
Since 2014
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
Canada
Sherbrooke
Since 2021
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...
Units for Homeless - an inspiring action from Patras, Greece
Greece
Patras
ongoing
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...
Annual ICC Forums Tradition – Melitopol
Ukraine
Melitopol
2021
Process: Melitopol, as a member city of the Ukrainian ICC network, has managed to establish the useful tradition of hosting annual international Intercultural Forums. Despite the limitations...
EUkrainians’ Favourite Book
Ukraine
Odessa
2021
Process: In 2021, due to the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, the Ukrainian cities that are member of the ICC programme had to celebrate Europe Day online for the second consecutive year....
The Council of Churches in Lutsk
Ukraine
Lutsk
2021
Purpose: Establishing interfaith dialogue and guaranteeing freedom of thought and religion Stimulus/Rationale: At the initiative of the mayor of the City of Lutsk, Mr. Ihor Polishchuk, the Lutsk...
Culture Camp in Vinnytsia
Ukraine
Vinnitsya
2021
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...
Diversitours
Spain
Bilbao
Valencia
2017 - ongoing
Purpose: Diversitours is a project to promote intercultural coexistence through urban tours that reflect the positive impact of cultural diversity in cities. Guided walks with an intercultural...
Fostering inclusive recruitment: project report and Guidebook for Employers
Portugal
Amadora
Loures
Oeiras
April to November 2021
Purpose: Through the project “Inclusive Recruitment” the Portuguese municipalities of Amadora, Loures and Oeiras worked on ways and means to encourage Portuguese employers to hire migrants and...
Empowering Roma Students
Greece
Patras
23/02/2022 – 23/02/2025
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...
Fans for diversity: inclusion through a community of football supporters
United Kingdom
Bradford
2020
Purpose: Increasing the diversity and inclusion of all football fans and strengthening ties in the community. Stimulus/Rationale: A Bradford City Football supporters group, the Bangla Bantams, is...
Pròxim: Access to the labour market
Spain
Barcelona
Purpose: Pròxim Programme is a social and labour insertion programme for people in an irregular administrative situation that could be regularised. The objectives are: To increase the level of...
The Iroko 7 Cs in Kirklees – Community focus
United Kingdom
Kirklees
2021
Purpose and stimulus/rationale: The Iroko project was developed, over an eight-month period, to respond to a context of: stark inequalities for Black and African Caribbean Communities revealed by...
Interreligious dialogue in Valladolid
Spain
Valladolid
2019 - ongoing
Purpose: Promote attitudes of respect for religious diversity by involving representatives of religious communities in the representatives of religious communities in the shared management of...
Schools for equality and diversity
Spain
Barcelona
Since 2014
Purpose: To promote a quality education system that is inclusive and promotes equal opportunities for all students. More precisely, to build capacity of teachers on the prevention of violence and...
Roma inclusion policies in Reggio Emilia, Italy
Italy
Reggio Emilia
2022
Purpose: The initiative aims to support the inclusion of the Roma community in Reggio Emilia by promoting intercultural interaction. Stimulus/Rationale: The city of Reggio Emilia has approximately...
The Open Mosque Project – Increasing contact in the neighbourhood
Italy
Turin
2018-ongoing
Purpose: The event “Open Mosques” allows people to meet and to get to know each other. The project’s primary objective is to open up the unknown – the space of the mosque – and thereby reduce...
Multilingual health information
Portugal
Lisbon
2018-2021
Purpose: The INFORMA em AÇÃO project aims to promote access to the SNS - National Health Service - by migrant communities and the improvement of the conditions in which it takes place, by...
Diversity policy in Geneva - New roadmap for the 2020-2025 legislature
Switzerland
Geneva
2020-2025
Purpose: Since 2014, the City of Geneva has been developing a public policy on cultural diversity and fight against racism. Placed among its priorities by the Administrative Council (executive of...
New generations on the wave
Italy
Pontedera
Olbia
April - November 2022
Purpose: This project aimed at giving the opportunity to local administrations and local communities to work together to develop strategies for the promotion of civic and intercultural active...
Place based cultural development within Kirklees – focus on textiles and music
United Kingdom
Kirklees
2018-2023
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...
Intercultural Council of Limassol
Cyprus
Limassol
2017 - ongoing
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...
Equal provision of support services to ALL vulnerable groups
Greece
Patras
Ongoing
Purpose: The purpose is to provide support services to all vulnerable groups within Patras' population, promoting equality and respect for human rights and needs. The focus is on covering basic...
An Anti-Racism Cockpit
Italy
Turin
2019
Purpose: Internally focused activity is key to addressing systemic discrimination. It enables a focus on the priorities, processes and practices of an organisation. It can be difficult to secure a...
Covid-19 Working Group
United Kingdom
Camden
2020
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...
The Inclusive Employer
United Kingdom
Bradford
2022
Purpose: Bradford Council seeks to be an inclusive employer Stimulus/Rationale: This initiative is rooted in Bradford Council’s Equality Objectives 2016-2020. One objective is that the Council is...
The Auckland Plan 2050
New Zealand
Auckland
2019-2050
Purpose: ‘Fostering an inclusive Auckland where everyone belongs’ Stimulus/Rationale: The Auckland Plan 2050 outlines a 30-year strategy for Auckland to tackle three key challenges: Population...
Welcoming guide - communication
Portugal
Amadora
ongoing
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
Switzerland
Geneva
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...