WELDI

🌍 Portrait Series #4: Education as a Catalyst for Change: The Journey of Yahya Al-Abdullah 🌟 From a small village in Syria to cities across Europe, Yahya Al-Abdullah's journey highlights the transformative power of education and the critical need for supporting migrants. After fleeing Syria during the Arab Spring, Yahya became involved in defending the rights of migrants, developing educational programmes such as OLIve and conducting research on marginalized communities. His work highlights the urgent need for inclusive policies and support systems that enable migrants to thrive. With this mission in mind, Yahya joined the Local URBACT Group of the Seine-Saint-Denis County Council, where he contributes his expertise to the WELDI project, aimed at creating a dignified welcome for newcomers. Read more about his inspiring journey : https://lnkd.in/e-WU8bJu #WELDI #URBACT #Conseil départemental de la Seine-Saint-Denis #Welcommunities

🌍 Portrait Series #3 : Esraa Zahran (Abdallah) : A Journey of Advocacy in Romania 🌟 From earning a master’s degree in Nursing to facing barriers in her profession, Esraa transformed challenges into opportunities. As a project officer at PATRIR, she bridges cultural gaps and advocates for migrants facing discrimination. Now an immigration consultant with the IOM, Esraa uses her lived experiences to support others navigating complex legal processes. Her journey highlights the importance of resilience and the celebration of diversity in Romania. Read more about her inspiring story: https://lnkd.in/e8tYdEQd #WELDI #URBACT #Cluj #Welcommunities #EsraaAbdallah #PATRIR

🌍 Portrait Series #2 : Jane’s journey from Kyiv to Timisoara 💫 Forced to flee Kyiv due to the 2022 invasion, Jane Rozbitskaya and her family sought refuge in Timisoara, Romania. Since then, Jane has become an essential figure in supporting fellow refugees, building crucial network, and promoting Ukrainian culture in her new community. Learn more more about Jane's inspiring journey and the impactful work of ‘Faina UA’ in fostering intercultural dialogue and supporting Ukrainians in Timisoara: https://lnkd.in/edtAJBSM #WELDI URBACT #Welcommunities #Timisoara Jane Rozbitskaya

🌍 Successful Staff Exchange in Liège on Citizen Card Development 🌍 On 17 and 18 September, a delegation from Utrecht visited the municipality of Liège as part of the WELDI project to exchange ideas on the development of a 'Citizen Card' in both cities. The city of Utrecht team was joined by members of their URBACT Local Group, including a researcher from the University of Applied Sciences in Utrecht, two representatives from Here to Support (developers of the Amsterdam City Rights App), and the coordinator of Villa Vrede, a day center for undocumented people in Utrecht. The Utrecht delegation received a warm welcome at the Liège City Office, where they explored the 'Carte Ardente' of Liège and Utrecht’s Citizen Card concept. The following morning, the group toured the city, visited CRIPEL asbl, a Regional Integration Centre preparing to launch a One-Stop-Shop on-site. They also visited la Cité Miroir, a revitalized cultural space in the former Sauvenière swimming pool, now a vibrant hub for culture, art, and critical thought. This exchange facilitated by WELDI project proved highly productive, providing participants with a stronger direction for the Citizen Card, which will play a central role in Utrecht’s URBACT Integrated Action Plan. 🤝 #WELDI URBACT #Ville de Liège #Gemeente Utrecht #Welcommunities

🌍 Portrait Series #1: Cheikhou Cissé, the journey of a migrant defender 💪 From his career in Dakar to leading Al Pasico in Spain, Cheikhou Cissé’s journey is a testament to resilience and dedication. After moving to Europe, Cheikhou’s passion for helping others led him to take a pivotal role at Al Pasico, where he now supports newcomers by providing essential services and advocacy. Under his leadership, Al Pasico plays a crucial role in assisting migrants with housing, career counseling, and more, reflecting Cheikhou’s deep commitment to improving lives. Explore Cheikhou's inspiring story and the impact of Al Pasico's work in the first article of our Portrait Series: https://lnkd.in/eZa37Ukd #WELDI URBACT #Welcommunities #Albacete Cheikhou Cisse

🌍 Staff Exchange in Utrecht - A Cross-Border Collaboration under the WELDI Project 🌍   From September 12 to 13, a delegation from Seine-Saint-Denis, including 3 social workers and an NGO representative from « La Marmite », travelled to Utrecht for a meaningful staff exchange as part of the WELDI project. The goal of this visit was to foster dialogue between professionals, share best practices and learn from each other's experiences in the social work and migration sectors. The delegation had the opportunity to visit the inspiring Plan Einstein neighbourhood centre, where refugees and local residents live and engage together through joint activities and training programs. They also explored the Support Centre for (former) Unaccompanied Minors, which offers crucial services to vulnerable youth. The delegation also met with civil society organizations such as SNDVU, which provides legal support and temporary housing for 100 rejected asylum seekers as they seek sustainable solutions. They also visited Villa Vrede (Villa Peace), a day centre offering activation and support to undocumented individuals.   This exchange, conducted under the WELDI project, marks a vital step in strengthening the collaboration between European partners, as we continue to work together towards more inclusive and supportive communities for all. 🤝 #WELDI #Welcommunities #HumanRights URBACT, Gemeente Utrecht, Conseil départemental de la Seine-Saint-Denis, ASSOCIATION LA MARMITE, Plan Einstein Haydn

🔍 URBACT’s WELDI #ActionPlanning Network draws attention to Lampedusa: the "gate to Europe". What’s your knowledge of migration and other topics affecting Europe’s cities? Take our sustainable urban development quiz 👉 https://bit.ly/46hUpvS

🏅 What if sustainable urban development was an Olympic sport ? 🔍 Challenge yourself with our URBACT quiz on building sustainable cities! Take the quiz and prove your skills 👉 https://bit.ly/46hUpvS

🌍 Digital Tools for Inclusion: Cluj-Napoca's Approach to newcomers Integration 💻 Migrants frequently encounter difficulties in accessing information about their legal rights, healthcare, education, housing, and employment. The multitude and variety of existing websites complicate their efforts, presenting significant challenges. Therefore, digital inclusion is vital for their integration. "One Stop Shop" websites offer an ideal solution by centralizing information, simplifying access to rights, and providing both emotional and practical support. In that manner, the Cluj-Napoca city council has launched the innovative 'welcometocluj' website, offering services in six different languages to long-term residents and newcomers. This platform covers fields such as education, social matters, and everyday life topics, with future plans to include Artificial Intelligence and live chat for an enhanced user experience. The city's digital inclusion efforts help migrants overcome their difficulties and encourage them to fully participate in the economic, social, and cultural life of the city. This example supports the digital inclusion of newcomers, promoting a more inclusive and connected world, aligning with the commitments pursued by the WELDI network. 📰 To learn more about about Cluj-Napoca's innovative digital integration efforts, read our detailed article here: https://lnkd.in/ePBwkKzZ 🌐 URBACT #WELDI #ClujNapoca #HumanRights #Welcommunities

📢 It's the last week to apply to the URBACT call for #GoodPractices with the deadline on 30 June 2024 at 14.00 CET Why should you apply for the URBACT Call for Good Practices ? - Getting a Good Practice label means gaining access to many visibility and funding opportunities for your city! - The application process is easy, takes only about 2 hours to tell us about something you are proud of. - It is the first step for cities to join the URBACT community and get the chance to lead an URBACT-funded Transfer Network in 2025! Apply to the call by 30 June 2024 on https://lnkd.in/eeznsg4c