Lampedusa, Berlin. Travel journal Europe for Citizens Program – Strand2: Democratic engagement and civic participation 2.3: Civil Society Project Project: 577736-CITIZ-1-2016-1-IT-CITIZ-CIV Partner meeting and conference 27-29 April 2017, Budapest (Hungary) Results of the panel: "How to overcome stereotypes about migrants?"

1. This project has been funded with support the Europe for Citizens programme of the European Union. This
communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use
which may be made of the information contained therein.
1
Lampedusa,
Berlin.
Travel journalEurope for Citizens Program – Strand2: Democratic engagement and civic participation
2.3: Civil Society Project
Project: 577736-CITIZ-1-2016-1-IT-CITIZ-CIV
Partner meeting and conference
27-29 April 2017, Budapest (Hungary)
Results of the panel:
"How to overcome stereotypes about migrants?"

2. This project has been funded with support the Europe for Citizens programme of the European Union. This
communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use
which may be made of the information contained therein.
2
The second event of the project Lampedusa Berlin saw the realization of the public
panel:"How to overcome stereotypes about migrants?"
The panel, conducted with the Open Narrating Space methodology, has seen strong
participation, and has developed on three thematic areas:
1- Stereotypes in everyday culture
2- Good Practices for overcoming stereotypes against migrants/refugees
3 - Integration policies
1. Stereotypes in everyday culture
Main questions:
- What are the prevalent stereotypes in your country?
- Why could these stereotypes spread in the society?
- What fosters these stereotypes?
Problems:
● assimilation or integration? fear of losing identity (but what is identity?)
● people need a scapegoat
● lack of knowledge, lack of wish for knowledge
● migration phenomenon is still considered to be an emergency rather than a long-term
problem
● why national movements are born? Why do they attract so many people?
● we want to think instead of refugees
● fake news on the internet
● distinction of economic migrants and political refugees
● migrant deliquency in small cities?
● lack of integration policies from the government
● shut out people from our lives
Stereotypes:
● migrants have to be poor
● judgement based on external features
● all muslim women’s rights are denied by their men and their society
● migrants don’t want to integrate
● Muslims are terrorists / migrants are all islam fundamentalists
● Black men are dealers and criminals
● migrants steal work of Italian people
● migrants don’t works because they don’t want to
● Roma people commit most of the crimes in Romania
● Hungarians want to steal the lands in Romania

3. This project has been funded with support the Europe for Citizens programme of the European Union. This
communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use
which may be made of the information contained therein.
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Proposals:
● Attitudes towards migrants would be changed. Awareness-raising. Sensitizing host
society.
● Awareness-raising from early age
● psycho-education
● positive examples through sport (e.g.: Oltalom Sport Association)
● exchange programs (Life Long Learning programs, EVS, Erasmus+, scholarships):
intercultural preparation of participants
● digital suitcase
● involve migrants in proposals and solutions
● involve migrants in arts project, have a different perspective on migrants
● TV should show a multicultural and multilingual society
● Migrants on TV
● institutionalized integration programs, e.g.: school workshops, curriculum
Based on the conversation, a distinction should be made between the existing
stereotypes and problems associated with migrants and refugees. Amongst the problems
appeared the question: assimilation or integration should be done, which raises up the fear
of losing one’s identity. Governments lack integration policies and the phenomenon of
migration is still considered to be an emergency situation than a long term condition, and the
solutions adjust to that fact. People need scapegoat for the currently existing problems, and
blaming refugees and migrants is the most obvious answer. People want to think instead of
the migrants. Fake news that appear on the internet have a huge influence on how people
approach migrants. The fact that people don’t distinct economic migrants from political
refugees also aggravate the solution of the problem. A more concrete problem is the migrant
delinquency in smaller cities. At the end it also has to be mentioned that making decisions
based only on stereotypes and information from the media and no giving a chance for
ourselves to get to know them, we shut out many people from our lives.
One has to state, that besides the negative stereotypes there are also the positive
ones, however, in the discussion, mostly the former type came up. The conversation
revealed that even though we come from a great variety of cultures, the prevailed
stereotypes are very similar in every country. Many of these stereotypes are fostered by the
lack of knowledge amongst the receiving societies and also by the lack of will for knowledge,
which is one of the problems associated with the phenomenon of migration. The
abovementioned shortages give space for the, many times, simplistic and distorted
conceptions about migrants and refugees staying in our countries.
The most prevalent stereotypes were the following: (1) All migrants have to be poor.
(2) All muslim women’s rights are denied by their men and their society. (3) Migrants don’t
want to integrate into the host society they arrive to. (4) Muslims are terrorist and and muslim
migrants are all Islamic fundamentalists. (5) Afro-american men are dealers and criminals.
(6) Migrants steal work opportunities from members of the host society. (7) The reason
migrants don’t work is because they don’t want to work. (8) Most of the committed crimes
are enacted by Roma people. (9) Minorities want to regain territories in certain countries
formerly belonged to them.
In general, the attitudes toward migrants and refugees should be changed. In parallel
with their integration, the host society needs to go through a sensitization process and

4. This project has been funded with support the Europe for Citizens programme of the European Union. This
communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use
which may be made of the information contained therein.
4
awareness raising in order to be prepared to receive the new arrivals. Awareness raising
works best if it starts from as early age as possible. There are different methods for
sensitizing a society, such as psychoeducation targeted different age group. Institutionalized
integration programs, e.g. theme oriented school workshops or extended curriculums can
help both the hosting society and the arriving migrants and refugees. Nowadays many
cultural/educational exchange programs exist, i.e. European Voluntary Service, Erasmus +,
different scholarships, etc.). As to make the most from these exchanges both in terms of
education and in terms of openness and cultural sensitization, intercultural preparation
should be organized before departure.
It is extremely important that migrants and refugees be involved in the proposals and
solutions that affect them in order that their actual needs be met.
One significant field where integration can happen is that of the sport, thus positive
examples should be emphasized, spread and demonstrated throughout the society. In
addition to sport, art is also an area, where integration can be fostered. Art projects can also
serve as therapeutic methods. Through these interventions migrants and refugees are able
to, if not fully but at least partially- process their possible traumas, thus more open and ready
to merge into the society.
In the XXIth Century, television and other media means dispose a great influence on
people’s opinion, thus those can be used as an instrument in the sensitization process. TV
should show a multicultural and multilingual society, as exists in reality. One example is a TV
show from Italy, that involved Albanian refugees living in the country. Another example from
Italy is the ‘digital suitcase’, which reflects to the fact that nowadays it is possible to ‘put our
lives’ on one digital device (photos, messages, letters, books, etc.) that can be carried with
us everywhere.
Since news and articles about migrants and refugees mainly report about their
burden and difficulties they have to experience, it is important to put a focus on an aspect of
their life which and personality, which shows us that they are like us, with the same needs
and same dreams.
2. Good Practices for overcoming stereotypes against migrants/refugees
The report includes Good Practices Panel’s main questions and answers given by panel
participants (posted on flipchart), that is followed by a short summary.
Main questions:
● Do you know good practices that help reducing/overcoming stereotypes towards
migrants?
● What works? and why? (elements of good practices)
- Improvement of communication
- Language classes with emphasis on culture
- Learn about their history, current situation, habits and traditions
- Organizing multicultural events

5. This project has been funded with support the Europe for Citizens programme of the European Union. This
communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use
which may be made of the information contained therein.
5
- Education: workshops in schools/universities (including exhibitions, videos, films,
lifestory telling, etc.)
- Deliver football trainings on regular bases
- - Organizing football tournaments with refugees and Hungarian citizens, using
special Fair Play (F3) rules
- Next-door family: meals between a local and an immigrant family in one of their
houses, so they get to know each other, share a meal and set the basis for a future
relationship
- Involving women with different cultural background (cooking together, sharing
food/culture)
- Involving them in communities: opennes, no degrading while helping
- Anti-rumour agents network: volunteers trained to stop rumours in everyday life with
real data and information to deconstruct false stereotypes
- Mentoring practices: locals and foreigners sharing daily life and helping each other
What works? and why? (elements of good practices)
Personal level:
● Getting to know different people destroys stereotypes (stereotypes are based on
ignorance and on fear of the unknown) - trade your fears for curiosity and interact
more
● Provoke empathy with “the other” - “the different”, by making people aware that
everybody, all of us is part of a stereotype (we are all same all different)
● Creating art work - shared creativ experience
Content of events, campaigns - How to reach/involve those who are not interested?
No direct sensitization, no direct focus on migration and refugee issues, but broader
framework, inviting, including everyone (e.g. football tournament, sports, kids programs (Kids
Island - Colourful Village). Even those will participate who would never decide to visit a
migrant related activity.
Involving migrants/refugees (who are the subject of stereotypes)
Providing activities, serving needs that are basic, practical, and of mutual interest
(reciprocity)
Summary
Involvement and interaction were the key words participants mentioned most often in the
panel discussion on Good Practices for overcoming stereotypes against migrants/refugees.
Our general starting point was that for overcoming stereotypes towards migrants/refugees
we need improvement in communication. Some suggestions were related to either of the
concerned groups:
● for migrants/refugees: Language classes with emphazis on culture

6. This project has been funded with support the Europe for Citizens programme of the European Union. This
communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use
which may be made of the information contained therein.
6
● for the receiving community: Learn about their history, current situation, habits and
traditions
Our discussion was one step further developed when “we” and “they” were brought together
to the same event, e.g. multicultural events, sensitizing workshops at schools (through
migrant’s life story telling).
Further on we came to agree that the most effective actions against stereotypes are local
activities that involve both groups on the basis of serving simple and reciprocal everyday
needs on a practical and joyful way. E.g. football trainings/tournaments (Fair Play (F3)
rules); Next-door family; Mentoring. Reciprocity can play a crucial role in overcoming -
among others - the migrant/refugee’s stereotype of being in need. The commonplace
dependent position is transformed into equal partnership.
Panel’s participants seemed to believe that good practices against stereotypes are based on
interactions that allow people to get to know each other, and at the same time overcome
ignorance and fear of the unknown. Besides of helping one another in everyday life, and
doing sports together creating artwork - shared creative experience was also highly valued
as a tool for combating stereotypes.
On a more general communication level awareness raising is believed to be efficient through
provoking empathy with “the other” by making people aware that everybody, all of us is
part of a stereotype (we are all same, and all different).
Raising the question of how to reach/involve those who are not interested, we came to the
conclusion that sensitization is more efficient when there is no direct focus on migration
and refugee issues but there is a broader framework inviting, including everyone (e.g.
football tournament, sports, kids program). Meaningful, joyful activities - with joint
intercultural activities - can attract even those who would never decide to visit a migrant
related activity.

7. This project has been funded with support the Europe for Citizens programme of the European Union. This
communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use
which may be made of the information contained therein.
7
3. Integration policies
The report includes Integration policies’ panel’s main questions and answers given by panel
participants (posted on flipchart), that is followed by a short summary.
Main questions:
● Is there an integration policy in your country?
● How do these policies contribute to overcoming stereotypes about migrants?
● What should an integration policy contain?
Participants in the group had discussions on the following fields of integration in detail:
○ education
○ language
○ housing
○ employment/labour market
○ media
○ social and cultural integration
Problems in each field:
Language and education:
● educational paths available/offered by the states often do not meet expectations and
needs of migrants/refugees
Employment:
● Germany: employment ban has been reduced to 3 months, but EU citizens still have
a proirity in filling job vacancies
● South-Italy: there is more inclusion on the social level than in employment
● Italy: policies are supported by trade unions where migrants are not represented,
there is a high rate of unemployment of migrants
Accommodation:
● accommodation and assistance marginalizes refugees in most countries
Media:
● Hungary: media campaign against migrants
Social integration:
● it is often difficult to get used to the rules and habits (daily routine) of a country
● Italy: social inclusion is “patchworked” in the country: both good and weak
experiences, depending on the region
● Italy: economically depressed areas have more inclusive strategies and good
practices

8. This project has been funded with support the Europe for Citizens programme of the European Union. This
communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use
which may be made of the information contained therein.
8
Proposals:
Language and education:
● education is the most important of all policies!
● Italy: homogenize good practices
● language courses provided by the state
● meet the needs, skills and educational level of migrants vs. integrated education
Accommodation:
● refugees shelters should be in central location of cities / mixed/integrated
neighbourhood
● Tuscany, Italy: diffusion of accommodation
Employment:
● meet the needs of migrants and employers
Media:
● Italy: ethical code for journalist
Cultural integration:
● Italy: policies of cultural integration exist but should be put into practice
Legal:
● put pressure on governments to give stricter punishment to racist acts of crime
Summary:
First, participants of this group shared the problems related to existing (or non-existing)
integration policies in their countries. The main focus was on education, learning the
language of the new country and employment - as the basic steps toward social integration.
Participants agreed that discrepancies in the education and language training of migrants
have to be solved somehow: in some cases language training should focus on special needs
and skills of migrants and provide a basic education first, then integrated education.
Regarding employment, participants agreed that in every state there are many obstacles set
in front of migrants in the labour market even though the policies might be supportive in
theory. Needs of migrants have to be assessed and represented in the labour market,
policies have include the needs of migrants as well.
Every participant agreed that it is a general practice that state accommodations for refugees
are segregated and make integration extremely difficult. Italy has some innovative examples
to this issue that could be spread, but in general it should be promoted that at least new
accommodations should not be segregated.

9. This project has been funded with support the Europe for Citizens programme of the European Union. This
communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use
which may be made of the information contained therein.
9
Regarding stereotypes about migrants, obviously the media has a great responsibility. A
good practice from Italy, namely an ethical code obligatory for journalists when speaking
about migrants, refugees, ethnic and other minorities is an example to follow for all member
states.
Participants also found that often there is a gap between policies and practices. When there
is a good intregration policy, stakeholder need to be encouraged to make sure that the
practice is in line with the policy.