Sharing, enjoying, learning! The richness of intercultural relationships
A walk, a meal, enjoying our favorite sport or sharing a pleasant conversation… Regardless of culture, age, religion, etc., we can always find similarities that allow us to approach other people. Although sometimes it may not seem so, we have more things in common than we imagine and, when talking about the meeting of migrant and host communities, we are surprised of how much we can learn and enjoy, if we have the disposition to DIALOGUE.
In DPC we try to pay attention to the day to day, making every moment an opportunity for the different to meet, creating spaces of equality. We are happy to realize that these spaces go beyond the tasks formally derived from the association’s performance, making cultural exchange a daily occurrence and stimulating on a personal level.
Coexistence: a bridge to inclusion and mutual benefit
Encouraging the growth of moments in which both migrants and non-migrants share daily life seems to us to help normalize what should never have been exceptional. We are not talking about big events —which are also interesting—, we are referring, for example, to having coffee together and talking about what happens to us. And we are also talking about asking each other for help. How many moves have we made together?
These spaces allow migrants to feel welcome and valued, while members of the host society can get to know and appreciate the richness of cultural diversity and learn to relativize their problems. This interaction not only breaks down barriers and prejudices, but also fosters mutual respect and understanding.
Although our initial approach to the migrant community is through our programs aimed at supporting their inclusion process, we treasure the meetings that occur naturally on a day-to-day basis. It is in those moments when empathy prevails, trust and the peer-to-peer exchange is born. There are no dominant cultures, we open ourselves to what is different, and we complement each other. That is what we aspire to! Dissolving preconceived ideas of the other person, and seeing the human being in front of us in his or her uniqueness, no matter what community he or she belongs to.
Celebrate, share, grow!
Traditions, ways of celebrating life, culinary exchange ways of enjoying free time… are scenarios in which we can find common things in all of us and learn from the characteristics of each culture. Sharing public and private spaces based on diversity is shaping new ways of building community. In short, we collaborate with migrants in strengthening their “sense of belonging” while the members of the host society enrich their perspective on social interactions based on respect, tolerance and empathy.
Do we also share pain?
Pain and sorrow, uncertainty, loneliness and nostalgia… all these feelings are as universal as a smile. Mental health, unfortunately, is often put on the back burner, even more so when we refer to the migrant community. On a day-to-day basis, each person worries about “the urgent”, the essential to live with dignity in the country that has welcomed them. But, at the end of the day, the portal of feelings and emotions opens, which are not easy to share when support networks are limited.
Creating a safe, non-judgmental and empathetic environment allows everyone to speak their mind. And this applies to both the migrant and host communities…. Many times, by simply listening to each other, we are making a difference.
In an increasingly interconnected world, migration has become a global phenomenon that touches the lives of millions of human beings. The coexistence between migrants and members of the host society is a challenge and an opportunity to build more inclusive, supportive and diverse communities. From DPC, we emphasize the importance of sharing spaces of coexistence to strengthen the social fabric and promote an effective and enriching inclusion for all people.
