InterCult

Intercultural mediation, social inclusion, integration

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.

Strengthen the skills of intercultural mediators and professionals in similar positions !

The iNTERCULT project aims for better understanding of intercultural mediation and its importance for the inclusion of migrants

Summary

Launched in

September 1, 2024

European partners

Results

- A compendium of best practices in intercultural mediation, as well as a compilation of the needs of intercultural mediators
  - Here is the compendium in French
  - Here is the compendium in English
- Design a training program, in response to the identified needs, intended for intercultural mediators and professionals and volunteers working in similar roles.
  - Here is the training framework in French
  - Here is the training framework in English
- Pilot this training with 2–5 intercultural mediators and/or professionals and volunteers working in similar roles.
  - In France, this training took place in two phases: First, the Module—the role of the intercultural mediator and their areas of intervention, with a focus on the limits of intercultural mediation. This training was led by the former coordinator of Intermed Gironde, Temilola Kehinde-Sanni, for approximately thirty intercultural mediators working in Gironde. Subsequently, we led a one-day training session on the module: Inter- and Transcultural Communication. This training focused primarily on two methods—Schulz van Thun’s communication square, applied to intercultural contexts by communication psychologist Anna Fuchs, and Margalit Emerique Cohen’s method of intercultural critical incidents, adapted by the Elan Interculturel association. It took place in Bordeaux for about twenty intercultural mediators.
- A guide containing: a case for the role of intercultural mediators in the inclusion of newcomers, as well as guidelines on how to implement intercultural mediation, including the responsibilities and limitations of the intercultural mediator in the process of migrant inclusion.

Project Details

Intercultural mediators are a crucial link between migrants and the hosting society. They facilitate communication and understanding of cultural representations.

In EU countries there are very heterogenous professional status of intercultural mediators and in general their work is little recognised.

Their missions are : facilitating intercultural communication - translation, raising awareness of cultural diversity, assisting with administrative procedures,
mediating intercultural conflicts, promoting intercultural dialogue, Social monitoring and support.

The iNTERCULT project

aims for better understanding of intercultural mediation and its importance for the inclusion of migrants
aims to reinforce the competences of intercultural mediators or professionals in similar positions to ensure better and effective integration of migrants.

The project is running from September 2024 till February 2027, coordinated by SLOVENSKA FILANTROPIJA (Slovenia) with partners from Hungary, Italy, Czechia and France.

Our Target Groups are :

Migrants in the process of integration
Intercultural mediators or people working in similar positions.
Structures that are active in the initial reception of refugees and the design and offer of educational and counselling services.
Public institutions (health clinics, social welfare centres, schools etc.)
Experts and researcher in the field of intercultural mediation and / or adult education

The project activities are

A compendium of good and effective practices in intercultural mediation and an in depth assessment on intercultural mediation .
Development a training course for intercultural mediators and professionnels who occupy similar positions .
Guidelines for implementing intercultural mediation in public institutions and organisations working with migrants including the role, the necessary competences and the limits of intercultural mediation .

The CU team