On September 12th, the URBACT Network "Arrival Cities" organized a three day transnational workshop in Oldenburg (DE) to discuss and exchange knowledge about "Education Services for migrants and refugees".

ProTeA was invited  to take part in this event by the Municipality of Patras as external expert, with its co-founder Ms Georgia Galani, taking part in round tables, commenting on best practices and experiencing in flesh the education services for migrants offered  in Oldenburg so as to transfer knowledge back to the Urbact Local Group of Patras. 

The Programme

Mr. Frank Hinrichs (Head of Mayor's Office) welcomed the delegates in the wonderful venue of Altes Rathaus – City Hall. The participants could also enjoy the music of a local band whose members Guevara, Zico and Oudi arrived in Germany from Siria two years ago.

The second day started in the Oldenburg Cultural Centre, where the Arrival Cities delegation has been welcomed by the Deputy Mayor Mrs. Chistine Wolff, stressing the importance for the City of hosting such international exchanges. The Introduction to the workshop's theme has been done by the Lead Expert Mr.Haroon Saad; in particular he analysed issues and challenges, as well as possible causal factors of education differences and made some examples of EU and City level actions across Europe and worldwide.

Later the delegates visited the IGS Kreyenbruck Comprehensive School  where several projects, as well as best integration practices have been presented. During the afternoon the group split in two to assist to the Case Studies presentations in parallel sessions. The Cities that presented their case studies were Amadora, Thessaloniki, Val de Marne and Messina.

In the first part of the morning of the 14th, delegates assisted to the presentation of Vantaa's and Roquetas' case studies in parallel sessions. Later the group moved to the Jugend Kultur Arbert Cente  for international exchange and volunteer. There, the delegates assisted to the presentation of the IBIS mentoring programme which provides individual support and counseling for children in scholar age. In the afternoon the group discussed about key issues to "bring home" for the next ULG meeting and later all the delegates split in 6 groups and went for a visit to "discover Oldenburg" with the students of the  European Master in Migration and Intercultural Relations  (EMMIR).

What is more, Ms Galani attended the Steering Committee meeting on behalf of the Municipality of Patras, where insights were shared and decisions were taken regarding the project progress, the Local Action Plans state-of-the-art, the programme of Val-de-Marne Workshop in February 2018 and the planning of the Final Event in Brussels.