Mentoring pair Mechelen - Partinico
3-Day virtual study visit between Mechelen and Partinico, with LRG associations, their Local Support Networks and the IncluCities consultant Migration Work took place on 20,21 and 24 June 2021. This gathering brought inspiration and lots of ideas around how to proceed in building a vision of a city for all.
The meeting started with the opening remarks from Maria Grazia Montella, IncluCities project coordinator, who introduced the project framework and the objective of the meeting. Carla Rey, Secretary General at AICCRE, followed by stressing the importance of the project for the city of Partinico and more in general as a pilot experience that would be used as an example and be potentially replicated in other similar contexts. Concetta Caruso, vice-prefect acting Mayor of Partinico and Gabriella de Francesco Alderwoman at Mechelen Municipality showed the political vision of Partinico and Mechelen and their respective engagement.
Pietro Puccio, Mayor of Capaci and Proxy of Partinico took the floor to highlight the need for new policies that shift the focal point from the emergency response to a more solid and steady inclusion policy that is embedded in all the policy actions. He also stressed the financial difficulties in which the LRGs find themselves without enough funding resources to face the numerous challenges that they are asked to face every day. His pledge is for a more accessible path for LRGs to the EC funding schemes to support and finance the activities on the local ground.
Corinne Huybers from the City of Mechelen gave a general introduction regarding the inclusive vision, policy and strategy of the city of Mechelen. She also presented some facts and figures regarding the city, specifically on ethnic cultural/language diversity. Furthermore, she has explained the process of change that the city has undergone between 2005 and now.
In further discussions with the stakeholders from the both local contexts, we've learned a lot about programmes of active participation, such as the Buddy programmes in Mechelen. On the other side, Partinico shed light on some local realities, issues, challenges they see as main obstacles in their way of improving local practices of integration.
The general objectives of this visit were to get to know each other better and to get inspiration from best practices of integration from Mechelen in order to become a city where diversity is celebrated as strength and solidarity is a must. Both cities, associations of local and regional governments VVSG and AICCRE with their local support networks took part in this 3-day virtual meeting.
They tried to develop ideas for change and identify their potential obstacles. Over the last year, both cities and Migration Work have developed a focus for this mentoring scheme on supporting the Sicilian district of Partinico in How to build a vision of a city for all.
Gabriella de Francesco, alderwoman for diversity and equality, City Council of Mechelen sent this lovely introduction postcard to Partinico, an Italian partner of Mechelen within the IncluCities project. Read the interview with Gabriella De Francesco here.
Check @IncluCitiesEU and the agenda.