Intercultural Mediation Projects
- Intercultural Mediators
Their role:
They act as mediators between individuals or/and groups who differ in terms of language, cultural beliefs and practices in order to ensure equitable communication and cultural understanding between all parties.
The services they provide:
- Facilitate communication and transactions of third-country nationals with government and state bodies.
- Provide information to third-country nationals about issues that concern them. They also inform third-country nationals about available services, as well as the pre-requisites for using these services. In cases where official translation or interpretation is needed, intercultural mediators can not replace licensed translators or interpreters.
Their importance:
The need for effective intercultural communication is becoming increasingly imperative, as intercultural mediators assist with:
- providing complete information and efficient services to third-country nationals,
- ensuring third-country nationals' equal access to necessary goods and services, and
- raising awareness and improving services offered by various bodies.
Their obligations:
While providing their services, intercultural mediators should:
- respect the rights of all individuals
- abide with confidentiality requirements
- be impartial, without taking sides
- assist in resolving misunderstandings
Where you can find services of intercultural mediation:
- in Migrant Integration Centers
- in Community Centers of Municipalities (read more below about the: "Program of “Reinforcement/promotion of intercultural mediation services in Community Centers/Migrant Integration Centers of Municipalities.”)
- in government bodies and non-government organizations in the context of reception and protection programs for applicants of international protection
- Recording of intercultural mediators
The Directorate of Social Integration in the context of its initiatives to develop the profession of intercultural mediation, has been conducting since March 2019, the recording-via a survey questionnaire, of employees working as intercultural mediators in Greece.
Objectives of the recording:
- The aim of the recording is to collect data that relate to the qualifications, skills, and professional experience of individuals working as intercultural mediators in Greece. The information collected will be used to better plan and implement activities and programs to promote the profession.
The recording is important:
- for creating an avenue of communication and information exchange between the Directorate of Social Integration and intercultural mediation professionals.
Participate in the recording:
Those who offer services of intercultural mediation are invited to complete the following questionnaire (in Greek or English) and send it to the email address: mediator@migration.gov.gr.
Those who have already completed and sent the questionnaire but whose contact information has changed since then (email, contact phone, residence address) are kindly requested to inform the Directorate of Social Integration by completing the following form and sending it to the email address: mediator@migration.gov.gr.
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Program: Reinforcement/promotion of intercultural mediation services
in Community Centers/Migrant Integration Centers of Municipalities
The planners of the program
The Directorate of Social Integration has designed in collaboration with the Actions Coordination and Monitoring Authority (EYSEKT) of the European Social Fund and the Hellenic Agency for Local Development and Local Government (E.E.T.A.A.), the program “Reinforcement/promotion of intercultural mediation services in Community Centers/Migrant Integration Centers of Municipalities.”
With regards to the funding:
The program is funded by the Regional Operational Programs (ROP) in the context of the Institutional Objective 9, “Promotion of social inclusion and combating poverty and discrimination."
Objectives of the program:
- The program foresees the training and employment of fifty-eight (58) Intercultural Mediators in forty-seven (47) municipalities of the country in eight (8) regions (Attica, Central Macedonia, East Macedonia-Thrace, Thessaly, Ipiros, West Greece, Central Greece and Crete).
Its duration:
The program is designed to run for three years with the potential of being extended depending on the operation of Community Centers. The total estimated budget is 2,770,460 €.
The role of the Directorate of Social Integration:
The Directorate of Social Integration monitors the program in close collaboration with the Hellenic Agency for Local Development and Local Government (E.E.T.A.A.). It also provides instructions and directions where needed and makes every possible effort in order to ensure the effective implementation of the program.
- Professional Profile
The Directorate of Social Integration in collaboration with other social partners and specialized bodies has completed the important, necessary, and innovative project of “Defining the Professional Profile of Intercultural Mediators,” according to the procedures specified in article 4 of the no 110998/08.05.2006 Joint Minister Decision: “Certification of Professional Profiles” (ΦΕΚ 566/Β).
- The project will outline and officially establish the profession of intercultural mediation. The project also envisions the improvement in the quality of services provided in the field.
- The professional profile describes the various aspects of intercultural mediation practice. Thus, it will help in creating certifications and assist in forming training programs for intercultural mediators.
- Intercultural Mediators Vocational Training Programme
The Intercultural Mediators Vocational Training Programme is taking place in Attica for thirty (30) Intercultural Mediators. It has been designed by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum in cooperation with UNHCR. The project is undertaken by a collaboration of the following bodies: METAdrasi (the coordinator body of the collaboration), INE GSEE AND KEK GSEBEE-KDBM. It started in 2023 and will be completed in 2024.
The deliverables of the project include:
- Writing of the educational material for seven (7) educational units, relevant experiential activities and question bank
- Printing of the educational material in hard copy and in e-book format
- Development and translation of specialized glossaries
- Translation of synopsis of the educational material
- Training of trainers
- Vocational training for thirty (30) Intercultural Mediators in Attica
- Dissemination of the programme’s results
On the project's website cultural-mediator.com has been uploaded the call for expressions of interest for the Intercultural Mediators, with an extension of the submission deadline to 26/01/2024. The Call can be found here:
