End of the Project

Here we are one last time to write a few final lines on the incredible journey undertaken by the Arrival Regions project. We want to start with a brief summary of the most significant numbers and results of the project:

• 13 partners over 6 countries
• 9 pilot actions where we have tested social innovation models for the integration of non-EU nationals
• 1 Tool-box: nine applied tools that can help stakeholders in rural regions to support the social and economic integration of migrants and create local welcoming cultures, with the purpose of it is precisely to give continuity to the actions undertaken and the knowledge developed
• 1 Transnational learning developed through study trips, trainings and research papers
• 1 Social Innovation Strategy for the integration of non-EU nationals in rural areas

Partners of the Arrival Regions project have analysed good practices in social innovation aiming at better integration of non-EU nationals to elaborate the project's Transnational Strategy. Stakeholders from public institutions, higher research and civil society (NGO) were thereafter invited to form local stakeholder alliances to implement the strategy's recommendations in nine local pilot actions which tested concepts of social innovation to promote the integration of non-EU nationals, albeit under the conditions of the pandemic. These pilot actions were peer reviewed between project partners and associated stakeholders to further promote transnational learning and exchange, and to derive insights about the transferability of pilot approaches. Transnational collaboration was essential to prepare the pilot actions' concepts and to analyse their results which feature in a tool-box and integrated policy recommendations to promote wider uptake. Knowledge on social innovation was furthermore passed on in a series of three capacity building workshops and through scientific papers. Training participants represented public authorities of all levels, NGOs, educational institutions and business representatives.
The project results promote knowledge of social innovation in integration efforts and were already put to use to manage the arrival of Ukrainian war refugees in spring 2022. The project furthermore facilitated better collaboration between public and private integration stakeholders. Members of the public are invited to learn more about the project on the regularly updated project website or through social media, including small local dissemination events to promote awareness raising. Video testimonials produced by the consortium allow further insights. A project movie titled "Heimat" combined video testimonials of non-EU nationals to a powerful audiovisual tool to promote further efforts to welcome non-EU nationals to Central European societies.

Wanting to represent a starting point for future initiatives and other activities related to the theme of the project, all the most important outputs and deliverables are available on the website in the "documents" section. 

For anyone wishing to have more information about it, in the "contact" section you will find the details of the Leader Partner.

Not being able to thank in a few lines all the people involved, both internally and externally, and who made all this possible, we conclude with a heartfelt thanks to everyone for what you have given to the project. It has been a real pleasure.

Arrival Regions Team