Preparation for the GM

During the General Meeting you will attend workshops for which some preparatory works needs to be done. Read about the workshops and your homework hereunder, or click on the image to download the document. The document is also the Appendix of Newsletter 2.

Appendix 1, Newsletter 2, February 2018

Preparatory work for the General Meeting 2018
Integration in European cities: Twinning for successful integration and democratic engagement

Welcome to the General Meeting in Oxelösund 2018. This year’s meeting is being conducted on the theme of integration. As a GM delegate you need to do some preparatory work, which is to be sent to Oxelösund before the meeting.

Background
Following an exceptional high migration to some of the municipalities of Douzelage in 2015 and 2016, the issue of immigrant integration into European societies has become increasingly important. The towns of Douzelage face two closely related and significant problems that make integration difficult and that delay a successful integration of immigrants;
–     Immigrants’ low participation and influence in local society
–     Prejudice and discrimination

The project Integration in European cities
In view of the above background Oxelösund has, in consultation with the Douzelage presidency, formulated the project Integration in European cities. The project is the basis for a granted application for EU co-funding The GM work is supposed to be conducted in workshops regarding the issue about strengthened democratically participation and the prevention of prejudices and discrimination.

Workshops during the general meeting
The workshops will have focus on three main keys/topics to a successful integration:

Workshop 1, Language
Being able to communicate with residents in a new country is one of the keys to successful integration. This is especially important when it comes to the labor market and the opportunities for self-sufficiency. But it is also important when it comes to the  possibility of becoming a part of the society in general. How do we work in our towns to help immigrants learn a new language as quickly and efficiently as possible? What is successful and what works less well?

Workshop 2, Civil society
To establish contacts in a new country is an important factor for integration. It’s partly about support and service from the public society. But above all it’s about what civil society offers in the form of community, culture, leisure activities, associations and political involvement.
How do we work in our towns to help immigrants to those important contacts in the civil society? What is successful and what works less well?

Workshop 3, Culture
To be orientated about the culture of a new country is an important factor for integration. It is about becoming aware of the social norms typical of the new country, both written and unwritten. How do we work in our towns to help immigrants to be aware of our specific social
norms? What is successful and what works less well?

Your preparatory work in four steps:

1. Select workshops
We want you to participate in two different workshops, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Use the attached registration form (see Members only section of this website).

2. Document a good example
For one of your chosen workshops/topics we want you to make a short documentation on how your town (or country) has been successful according to:
–     immigrants’ participation in local society, or
–     prevent prejudices or discrimination against immigrants, or
–     integration in general

3. Document a bad example
For one of your chosen workshops/topics we want you to make a short documentation on how your town (or country) has been less successful according to:
–     immigrants’ participation in local society, or
–     prevent prejudices or discrimination against immigrants, or
–     integration in general

4. Send your registration form and your documentation before April 1st to:
niklas.telin@oxelosund.se