The Next Door Family project has first been introduced in the Czech Republic in 2004. Due to its outstanding results, the model is still in use today.
The project is based on the “inclusive neighborhood” concept, thus aims to promote friendship between immigrant and host community families, abolish barriers, and end mutual isolation.
The Czech project gained new momentum this year by inspiring a substantial immigrant integration-focused European project called Next Door Family EU – Inclusive Neighborhoods. The latter is funded by the European Integration Fund and it is facilitated by international partner organizations in Belgium, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Slovakia and Spain.
In 2012, at least 210 family meetings (involving around 1800 people) will be organized in the partner countries and in other member states eager to launch similar meetings. The above described “how to live together and not just next to each other” model promotes new ties and friendships between receiving society members and immigrants who have found their new home in Europe.
On November 18th 2012 at 13:00, immigrant and host society families will simultaneously have lunch together in 7 European countries to get to know each other while sharing Sunday lunch.
If you (along with your partner or family) are interested in participating at a lunch with a local/immigrant family, do not hesitate to contact our colleague at diana.berecz@menedek.hu.
For information on our multicultural events and on the participating organizations, please visit the project’s website at http://nextdoorfamily.eu.
