Intercultural Workers in Brno City Municipality

A positive example of how municipalities can prevent potential friction and security issues is represented by Brno City Municipality, which tries to take responsibility in the successful inclusion of migrants by creating a safe environment for both its local citizens and the migrant communities.

A positive example of how municipalities can prevent potential friction and security issues is represented by Brno City Municipality, which tries to take responsibility in the successful inclusion of migrants by creating a safe environment for both its local citizens and the migrant communities. One of the Municipality’s current projects focuses on mapping the local leaders of migrant communities and their chosen communication platforms and channels. The aim of the project is to come closer to the migrant communities in order to meet their needs and provide adequate support.

Another innovative and pioneering project starting in autumn 2017 will bring intercultural mainstreaming among public institutions. The local administration will be offered the services of intercultural workers coming from the migrant communities themselves. Brno City Municipality will create a team of employees for working with incoming migrants. Members of the team will have the necessary language skills and will assist public institutions when dealing with foreigners. The needs of this group of people will continue to be mapped and new policies will be adopted if and when needed. The team will also be responsible for field work and cooperation with individual city districts and will help create a strategy for the integration of foreigners in Brno.

Additionally, special trainings to enhance the intercultural sensitivity of the local administration staff will be organised. A sustainable concept of integration will occur as one of the project outcomes as well. The final goal of the project is to develop intercultural permeability in various areas in public administration, to use the potential of foreigners in building a more vibrant and diverse city and to encourage their engagement in building a dialogue with local authorities. One of the advantages of these projects is the direct and active involvement of migrants and refugees in the integration efforts.