Dive into integration through volunteering
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May 17, 2021

Dive into integration through volunteering

May 17, 2021

Eurocities is proud to present our very first digital Integrating Cities toolkit! Developed throughout our project VALUES, this toolkit guides cities in implementing the Eurocities Integrating Cities Charter. Besides featuring more than 20 case studies on integration through volunteering, the publication presents four benchmarks – agreed standards of best practice for cities Europe-wide – setting out key factors for success in the given thematic area.

So don’t wait any longer to dive into it! You’ll learn for instance how Dusseldorf is active at district level through its Welcome Points, promoting exchanges between the local population and the newcomers at the heart of the neighbourhoods. Or how Thessaloniki is bringing migrants’ voices to the radio through its volunteer radio station run by and for its people. Get inspired by our VALUES partner cities’ best practices as Bristol was from its exchange with Nuremberg, which resulted in Bristol organising its very first Award Ceremony for volunteers in the city working with young migrants and refugees.

After two years of intense work all over Europe on migrant integration through volunteering, our VALUES project came to an end last month. During our virtual final meeting on 22 April 2021, our city partners – 16 Eurocities members – highlighted what an opportunity being part of VALUES has been for them: a great chance to learn about other good practices from across Europe on topics like building a welcoming culture, integration at neighbourhood level, and engagement of young migrants as volunteers.

The project was also a key occasion for cities to celebrate the work of their volunteers (both locals and migrants), by involving them in the city staff and volunteers exchanges, hence creating long lasting links with local associations and volunteer organisations. Besides our digital toolkit, the great work of the “VALUES family” brought 16 inspiring local action plans to life, all packed with innovative ideas cities are committed to implement to better use volunteers’ opportunities for integration. All these interesting actions and many more good examples, videos, and tools to implement change in your cities are available in our publication, combined in a great digital experience.

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