Refugees welcome

The project

The program intends to promote a cultural change and a new Welcome model for refugee population. The program creators believe that horizontal hospitality is the best way to facilitate the inclusion of refugees in the country and that it helps, more than any other measure, to overcome vulnerabilities. In addition, it creates safe spaces that favor the expression of personal potential, participation in the community and the common well-being. For refugees, being part of a shared home can be a defining moment on the path to full autonomy. Living with local people it is the best way to become part of a community and to quickly learn the social and cultural context of the host country. The new hosts can help the refugees to easily create a network of social relationships, improve their knowledge of the language or invest in their life project. Goals like resuming studies or finding a job are much easier with a local person by their side.  

The platform promotes an inclusion model based on mutual knowledge between displaced people and the local citizens, helping to combat prejudice and discrimination. The welcoming culture is good for everyone, not just refugees. Those who build a common space for exchange have the opportunity to enter a new culture, get to know the world through conversations, help a person to build a life project in this country, be part of a solidarity that makes sense and become a more conscientious and active citizen, with stronger and more valuable community ties. 

The impact of the good practice

This good practice is being carried out in many countries: Germany, Austria, Greece, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Canada, Czech Republic, Romania, Northern Ireland, Australia and France. In Catalonia, this good practice is being carried out with the collaboration of local administration (Barcelona, Terrassa, Sabadell, Sant Cugal del Vallès-Valldoreix, Castelldefels), Universities (UPC), ONG’s (Creu Roja, Pro-vivienda, Fundació Bayt Al-Thaqafa, Fundació APIP-ACAM, ACCEM, CCAR, Amics de la Gent Gran).