Cultural "Adequation"
A25 Cultural Foundation believes that it is knowledge of the local cultural and social codes which is indispensable for empowering refugees and asylum seekers, fostering democratic values and exercising their human rights in the host country. Therefore, by developing and implementing a cultural orientation programme the Foundation aimed at the inclusion of 80 asylum seekers and refugees in the social fabric. This happened through the organization of 9 informative and entertaining activities and involved small-scale social mixing.
The objectives of the initiative covered:
- enhancing the capacity of refugees and asylum seekers to actively and effectively function in the Bulgarian society
- providing them with possibilities for access to cultural goods
- facilitating the understanding of multicultural differences in the society at large
Year(s): 2013-2014
Target group(s): Refugees and asylum seekers
Website: http://www.ref-life.bg/
Methodology
The activities within Cultural "Adequation" included a cultural orientation session, museum visits, comics and street art workshop, Bulgarian folklore dances, theatre and cinema attendances, literary readings, Sofia tour guide and a final photo exhibition.
Type of product
Event;
Cultural orientation programme
Brief description of the product / outcome / method
The 9-month cultural orientation programme for refugees and asylum seekers consisted of provision of information about and participation in various cultural activities in the city of Sofia. It included a cultural orientation session, two museum visits, comics and street art workshop, Bulgarian folklore dances, theatre and cinema attendances, literary readings, Sofia tour guide and a final photo exhibition of pictures taken by the participants. The programme covered all aspects of the culture, understood in its broadest terms as a set of meanings, beliefs, practices, symbols and norms, characterizing a society. A special guest/expert on each topic was always invited to lead a workshop. Each session involved active participation and experience sharing among all parties present, for better familiarization with one another and with the cultures of all participants.
Impact on target groups / Transferability potential
By developing a cultural orientation programme for refugees and asylum seekers, A25 Cultural Foundation complemented the state's efforts in integrating them, provided them with possibilities for equal access to cultural goods, enhanced their capacity to actively and effectively function in the Bulgarian society and, last but not least, facilitated the understanding of multicultural differences in the Bulgarian society at large.
The participants learned about existing cultural and social practices; multicultural dialogue characterized all meetings; access to cultural goods was provided. The programme represents a replicable complementary small-scale model for integration into the Bulgarian society, enriching the well-known approach, based on Bulgarian language teaching. Despite its small scale, the project was successful in creating and fostering a sustainable process of mutual and multicultural understanding and proposes a working model for cultural orientation of refugees and asylum seekers at a national level. The participants gave a positive feedback and wished for the programme to continue.
Promoter of the initiative
Name of organization / individual: A25 Cultural Foundation
Country: Bulgaria
Website: http://www.a25cultfound.org/
Contacts: info@a25cultfound.org