On March 27th, we organised a six-hour training workshop in Thessaloniki, as part of the ReROOT project. The event was attended by sixteen professionals working in the field of migrant and refugee integration, representing NGOs, the Municipality of Thessaloniki, and various public sector organizations. The workshop was titled: ”Integration Otherwise Inspiration Kit. -A guide for Practitioners, Policymakers, and Community Builders”. Its aim was to introduce and practice innovative tools designed to support migrants and refugees.
The workshop began with a brief presentation of the ReROOT project, followed by an overview of the entire toolkit. Particular emphasis was placed on three specific tools: Tool 17 (Storytelling), Tool 19 (Photovoice), and Tool 26 (Mapping), which were presented in detail and practiced by participants.
The workshop began with a brief presentation of the ReROOT project, followed by an overview of the entire toolkit. Particular emphasis was placed on three specific tools: Tool 17 (Storytelling), Tool 19 (Photovoice), and Tool 26 (Mapping), which were presented in detail and practiced by participants.
Participants were then divided into four teams to experiment with Tools 17 (Storytelling) and 26 (Mapping). Each team was asked to draw on their professional experience to create a story of a newly arrived migrant or refugee in Thessaloniki, navigating the city in search of services and accommodation to meet their basic needs. Using blank maps of Thessaloniki provided to them, the teams marked with colors the different locations visited by the imagined newcomer. Each team then presented their story to the group, shared the maps they had created, and reflected on their experience.
The next activity involved the use of Tool 19 (Photovoice). Participants, again in teams, were invited to walk through the surrounding neighborhood and, thinking from the perspective of the newcomer in their stories, take photographs of places the newcomer might notice, visit, or use. The neighborhood offered a rich array of sites for this purpose, including migrant service centers, NGO offices, the railway station, and refugee-run businesses such as restaurants and supermarkets. After approximately thirty minutes, participants returned to the workshop space and presented their photographs, along with accompanying narratives, personal reflections, and impressions.
The next activity involved the use of Tool 19 (Photovoice). Participants, again in teams, were invited to walk through the surrounding neighborhood and, thinking from the perspective of the newcomer in their stories, take photographs of places the newcomer might notice, visit, or use. The neighborhood offered a rich array of sites for this purpose, including migrant service centers, NGO offices, the railway station, and refugee-run businesses such as restaurants and supermarkets. After approximately thirty minutes, participants returned to the workshop space and presented their photographs, along with accompanying narratives, personal reflections, and impressions.
