10 lessons from Specially Unknown
In the European Refugees Oral History project Specially Unknown, partners from Antwerp (Red Star Line Museum, Bochum (LWL Industrie Museum Zeche Hannover), Paris (Association Générique till December 2018 and Cité Internationale des Arts ). Turin (Rete Italiana di Cultura Popolare) and Amsterdam (Stichting Bevordering Maatschappelijke Participatie) worked togheter to:
- Train 25 fieldworkers in the method of oral history interviews and the way to record and transcribe these interviews.
- Collect over 140 life stories on video of refugees in Antwerp, Bochum, Paris and Turin, create a database with English translations of these interviews and make sure the interviews are part of an official local or national archive.
- Make 9 cultural productions (video, theatre, dance, poetry, and storytelling based on the interviews and in co-creation with refugees.
- Reach an audience of 5000 people in real life end about 40.000 through the website wwww.speciallyunknown.eu and social media (videos, newsletters, reviews) of the project itself and of the partners.
- Make educational material based on interview fragments in different languages
- Organise a European conference in Amsterdam
- Make policy recommendations on a local, national and European level.
From the interviews we have derived 10 simple lessons
which are of use for all kinds of policy makers
- Language, Integration and ownership: Learning the language and following a pathway to work and/or training are important and necessary tools for integration and civic integration, but not always sufficient. The interviews with older refugees show that the feeling of ownership of the new environment and the sharing of norms and values are equally important and indispensable.
- A quick contact with society (neighbours, friends, societies, associations and networks) contributes to the motivation and speed with which refugees feel part of society.
- Long waits and inactivity often cause psychosomatic injuries that place an additional burden on both individuals and society.
- Dialogue – Standards and values of the host society can often be conveyed through continuous dialogue with the environment and through participation in activities. This is a transformation process that sometimes takes a long time.
- The right to self-determination and responsibility for the environment often encourage participation.
- The use of old refugees with experience and knowledge is sometimes much more effective in conveying information and motivation to the groups.
- A local approach to integration is based on cooperation between residents’ initiatives, local authorities, institutions, active and involved residents and educational activities in which urban policy serves as a guideline.
- The extent to which the involvement of citizens and the available social capital are used is decisive for integration.
- The use of storytelling, art and culture and creative activities contribute to increasing motivation and reducing absenteeism.
- Social vitality as a conclusion