The Xeix project is shortlisted for the Diversity Advantage Challenge Award
The Xeix integration project, driven by the Eixample District in collaboration with the Eix Fort Pienc Retailers' Association, is one of the finalists for the European Council's Diversity Advantage Challenge Award. The award comes with 10,000 euros and recognises innovative initiatives that promote community coexistence and cultural diversity, by having a positive impact on businesses, organisations and communities.
There are five shortlisted projects and the winner will be announced this coming 24 March in Strasbourg. In addition to the Xeix project, the following projects have also been shortlisted: “Ordinary Heroes” from Bosnia and Herzegovina; “La diversité à l’oeuvre: des habitants charpentiers d’une nouvelle dynamique dans le quartier” from France; “NDM – for more diversity in the media”, from Germany; and “Festival O Bairro i o Mundo”, from Portugal. Sixty-three projects were submitted in all.
The Xeix project got off the ground in October 2012, aiming to bring about the gradual integration of the Chinese community into the association movement of Fort Pienc, a neighbourhood in the Eixample district. Initially its efforts were aimed at the retail sector and later extended to education. Subsequently, in 2014, the project was extended to cover the Sant Antoni neighbourhood. And work also began with the Pakistani community.
To carry out the various actions planned as part of this initiative, the organisers brought two professionals on board specialising in mediation and in Chinese and Pakistani languages and cultures. They help to bring these two communities closer to the local populace.
One of the project's main goals has now been achieved, namely, to get retailers from these two communities involved in the city's associations. The Eix Fort Pienc Retailers' Association, for example, now has a total of 16 Chinese and 4 Pakistani and Indian members. That represents 20% of the total. And there are another four who are regular collaborators.
This year the Xeix project has been given a budget of some 94,000 euros by the Immigration and Interculturality Services Department and by the Eixample District, so it can adopt all the measures and take all the initiatives planned to help integrate the city's new citizens. It also works closely with the Eix Fort Pienc Retailers' Association (ACEFP) and Sant Antoni Comerç (SAC).
In both neighbourhoods they work with the Chinese and Pakistani communities, putting special emphasis on retailers; Barcelona-born retailers; neighbourhood associations such as the parents' association (AMPA), leisure and sports organisations, etc.; Chinese and Pakistani associations; public facilities and their users; immigration professionals; commercial organisations and associations; business managers based in the neighbourhood and the general public.
Activities planned for the two communities in Fort Pienc and Sant Antoni include:
- Commercial training courses for new and home-grown residents.
- Commerce boosting activities.
- Active incorporation of the Chinese and Pakistani communities into neighbourhood associations.
- Teaching Chinese as an extracurricular activity.
- Introducing elements of Chinese and Pakistani cultures into public facility programmes
- Increasing the range of activities with elements from both cultures.
- Training for professionals on immigration, combating rumours, and breaking down stereotypes and perceptions of business in those cultures, and promoting Xeix's experience in Fort Pienc in the district's other neighbourhoods.
