CARING

Migrants’ inclusion has always been an important part of the migration phenomenon; however, it is today a particularly complex issue. In an increasingly globalized world, the growth in the absolute number of migrants over the past 50 years and the diversification of migrants’ origins, socioeconomic backgrounds and reasons for ​migrating have led to more social, cultural, ethnic and religious diversity in receiving societies. As a result, the impact of migration
and diversity on social cohesion has become an important concern.

The number of people residing in an EU Member State with citizenship of a non-member country on 1 January 2020 was 23 million, representing 5.1 % of the EU population. In addition, there were 13.5 million persons living in one of the EU Member States on 1 January 2020 with the citizenship of another EU Member State. In absolute terms, the largest numbers of non-nationals living in the EU Member States on 1 January 2020 were found in Germany (10.4
million persons), Spain (5.2 million), France (5.1 million) and Italy (5.0million). This can be explained by geopolitical issues, when the EU becomes a destination for thousands of thousands of refugees from the Middle East (Syrian in 2015), Afghani in 2015 and 2021, better educational opportunities and conditions of work that attract qualified youth and workforce from Eastern Europe, and many other reasons.

There are different ways of looking at new cultures coming to a country. For sure, culture is a way to make people feel included, not just integrated. Cultural activities with migrants provide a safe place where they can interact and form connections with locals, learn the language, and express their cultural identities in their new countries. They give a space for migrants to acquire skills which will boost their employability and gain an understanding of their new country’s culture.