CI.SO.MO – Fifty-Fifty

Civil Society Solidarity Movement – CI.SO.MO

Project Details: 602046-CITIZ-1-2018-EL-CITIZ-CIV

Programme: Europe for Citizens, Democratic engagement, and civic participation – Civil Society Projects

Timeline: 01-10-2018 to 31-03-2022

Project Description

The word CISOMO in Greek is “ΣΥΣΣΩΜΟ” meaning United Under a Cause. CI.SO.MO. is a project implemented in the framework of the Europe for Citizens program, under Strand2: Democratic engagement and civic participation, Action 2.3: Civil Society Projects. CI.SO.MO. objective is to promote the European fundamental values of freedom, justice, security and democracy in light of the application of civil society migration solidarity as a fundamental element of European Integration.

The countries (Greece, Bulgaria, Slovenia and Sweden) involved in the project are chosen on the basis their experience in civil society solidarity movements and the flow of immigrants in each country.

The expected outcomes are the creation of a civil society solidarity migration movement’s action plan applicable to the forthcoming movement and the raise of awareness on solidarity and migration issues.

The overall objective of the CI.SO.MO project is in compliance with the call’s general objective “to foster European citizenship and to improve conditions for civic and democratic participation at Union level” and its specific objective is “Encourage democratic and civic participation of citizens at Union level, by developing citizens’ understanding of the Union policy making-process and promoting opportunities for societal and intercultural engagement and volunteering at Union level”. Therefore, the project seeks to promote solidarity among the European citizens and third-country national citizens as well. CI.SO.MO promotes the European fundamental values of freedom, justice, security and democracy in light of the application of solidarity the basis of the European Integration.

The CI.SO.MO project fits with the program’s objectives, features and multi-annual minorities that are described as followed:

the investigation of the dynamics, the causes and motives that have mobilized the citizens to participate in the civil society solidarity migration movement
the development of a baseline data, norms, standards, training resources information and ITC applications that foster the sustainable development of the volunteering on migration issues across Europe.
the development of a civil society solidarity migration movement strategy based on the capitalization of the existing methodologies used by the short term/informal and the long lasting/professionalized civil society solidarity migration movements in the European Union
the emergence of the best practices in Europe with the aim of promoting and strengthening the solidarity among European citizens and the third-country national citizens
the improvement of the communication, cooperation and the coordination among the civil society solidarity groups and enhance the intercultural dialogue among the European citizens and the migrants. The religion/ the origin/ the language are not obstacles to common values such as democracy, human rights and justice
the contribution to migration policy and government issues by bringing together an impressive pool of policy makers/volunteers/migrants/experts, these are who identify problems and research causes / consequences and devise sound policy solutions on migration matters.
the raise of awareness on migrants’ contribution to EU societies and give a voice to third-country national citizens in the public debate on migration and integration.
the raise of issues that unite rather than divide the European citizens and overcome the recent growth of fear, hatred and racism all over Europe against the migrants. The civil society solidarity migration movements are a tool for developing the European values.
the CI.SO.MO project gives the opportunity to all European citizens to be informed about the civil society solidarity movements, encouraging diversity/tolerance and the respect of common values between the EU citizens and migrants deconstructing past and present processes of migrants’ stigmatization.

The project «Civil Society Solidarity Movement» was funded with the support of the European Union under the Programme "Europe for Citizens"Strand 2 – Measure 2.3 "Civil Society Projects"

9 events have been carried out within this project:

Event 1 – Kick-off Meeting

Participation: The event involved 49 citizens, including 24 participants from the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, 10 participants from the city of Siatista, Greece, 12 from the city of Novo Mesto (Slovenia), 2 from the city of Varna (Bulgaria) and 1 from the city of Stockholm (Sweden).

Location / Dates: The event took place in Thessaloniki, Greece, from 22/03/2019 to 22/03/2019
Short description: The aim of the event was the kick-off meeting to discuss for the beginning of the project. The event involved project coordinators from all participating organisations and citizens to be part of the project, to reach a common understanding of the project and its idea; We shared the aims and objectives of the project; we discussed and clarified the work plan and the main phases. Solidarity movements that begun their activities in Greece, were also invited.

Event 2 – Study Visit

Participation: The event involved 49 citizens, including 34, participants from the city of Novo Mesto (Slovenia), 4 participants from the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, 4 participants from the city of Siatista, Greece, 5 from the city of Varna (Bulgaria) and 2 from the city of Stockholm (Sweden).

Location / Dates: The event took place in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, from 21/05/2019 to 24/05/2019
Short description: The aim of the event was to have discussions and make visits to the Civil Society Solidarity Migration members, in order to conduct the need analysis. By interviews and on-line questionnaire for the volunteers, the aim was to get the input for the need analysis and the practices used to develop the civil society solidarity migration movement strategy. “DRUSTVO ZA RAZVIJANJE PROSTOVOLJNEGA DELA NOVO MESTO” was responsible for the need analysis taking the input from “Greek Association of IT Telecom Applications & New Technologies Companies” and “Eu Diaspora Council”. The event involved project coordinators from all participating organizations.

Event 3 – Study Visit

Participation: The event involved 49 citizens, including 10 participants from the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, 24 participants from the city of Siatista, Greece, 8 from the city of Novo Mesto (Slovenia), 5 from the city of Varna (Bulgaria) and 2 from the city of Stockholm (Sweden).

Location / Dates: The event took place in Siatista, Greece, from 03/07/2019 to 05/07/2019
Short description: The aim of the event was to have discussions and make visits to the Civil Society Solidarity Migration members was organized on the spot. By interviews and on-line questionnaire for the volunteers, the aim was to get the input for the need analysis and the practices used to develop the civil society solidarity migration movement strategy. “Greek Association of IT Telecom Applications & New Technologies Companies” was responsible for the report about good practicies taking input from “SDRUZHENIE EVROPEYSKI PROEKTI V BALGARIA” and “Eu Diaspora Council”. The event involved project coordinators from all participating organizations.

Event 4 – Study Visit

Participation: The event involved 45 citizens, including 4 participants from the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, 3 participants from the city of Siatista, Greece, 3 from the city of Novo Mesto (Slovenia), 5 from the city of Varna (Bulgaria) and 10 from the city of Stockholm (Sweden).

Location / Dates: The event took place in Stockholm, Sweden, from 04/09/2019 to 06/09/2019
Short description: The aim of the event was to implement a study visit to the Civil Society Solidarity Migration organisations in Sweden, in a country were ever since World War II has been a country of immigration. Also, interviews were performed and an on-line questionnaire for volunteers to get their input for the need analysis CiSoMo project performed, and the good practices used to develop the civil society solidarity migration movement strategy. At the study visit, representatives of the project partners were involved, as well as members of the target groups.

Event 5 – Round Table

Participation: The event involved 25 citizens, including 3 participants from the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, 2 participants from the city of Siatista, Greece, 2 from the city of Novo Mesto (Slovenia), 16 from the city of Varna (Bulgaria) and 2 from the city of Stockholm (Sweden).

Location / Dates: The event took place in Varna, Bulgaria, from 18/10/2019 to 18/10/2019
Short description: The aim of the event was for representatives of academics, experts, volunteers and migrants to come together and participate in a round table to express their view on solidarity and migration and provide the stakeholders with the data, sources, methodologies and the results required for evidence-based policymaking. Representatives of the partner organizations and citizens from Varna were invited to discuss and debate issues from the European Migration Policy whereas the debates were based on the need analysis and the good practice report that was produced by the Ci.So.Mo. project partners previously. The Round Table was focused mainly on the situation of the Bulgarian solidarity movements, their good practices and deficiencies, as well as an exchange of opinions and views lead to the conclusion that the civil society solidarity movements in Bulgaria need support and encouragement.

Event 6 – Round Table

Participation: The event involved 25 citizens, including 3 participants from the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, 2 participants from the city of Siatista, Greece, 17 from the city of Novo Mesto (Slovenia), 2 from the city of Varna (Bulgaria) and 1 from the city of Stockholm (Sweden).

Location / Dates: The event took place in Novo Mesto, Slovenia, from 29/11/2019 to 29/11/2019
Short description: The aim of the event was for representatives of academics, experts, volunteers and migrants to come together and participate in a round table to express their view on solidarity and migration and provide the stakeholders with the data, sources, methodologies and the results required for evidence-based policymaking. Representatives of the partner organizations and citizens from Varna were invited to discuss and debate issues from the European Migration Policy whereas the debates were based on the need analysis and the good practice report that was produced by the Ci.So.Mo. project partners previously. The Round Table was focused mainly on the situation of the Slovenian solidarity movements, their good practices and deficiencies, as well as an exchange of opinions and views lead to the conclusion that the civil society solidarity movements in Slovenia are well based and active, however they need support and encouragement.

Event 7 – Seminar

Participation: The event involved 25 citizens, including 5 participants from the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, 10 participants from the city of Siatista, Greece, 3 from the city of Novo Mesto (Slovenia), 5 from the city of Varna (Bulgaria) and 2 from the city of Stockholm (Sweden).

Location / Dates: The event took place in Siatista, Greece, from 03/03/2020 to 05/05/2020
Short description: The aim of the event was to raise awareness on solidarity and against racism. Participants were active citizens who wanted to get informed about volunteering, migration and solidarity. The seminar was designed to develop literacy, empathy, and understanding of race-related issues and identities, and improve safety and support for migrants. The Seminar offered to participants an overview of key concepts related to race, racism and systems of oppression, and explored anti-racist practices through the lens of solidarity.

Event 8 – Seminar

Participation: The event involved 25 citizens, including 12 participants from the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, 4 participants from the city of Siatista, Greece, 4 from the city of Novo Mesto (Slovenia), 4 from the city of Varna (Bulgaria) and 1 from the city of Stockholm (Sweden).

Location / Dates: The event took place in Thessaloniki, Greece, from 24/03/2022 to 27/03/2022

Short description: The aim of the event was to raise awareness on solidarity and against racism. Participants were active citizens who wanted to get informed about volunteering, migration and solidarity. The participants gained a richer understanding of key anti-racist concepts, literature, and resources, reflected on their role as an active member of society and of the solidarity movements, and explored how to embed anti-racist practices in their life and context.

Event 9 – Final Conference

Participation: The event involved 151 citizens, including 80 participants from the city of Thessaloniki, Greece, 25 participants from the city of Siatista, Greece, 20 from the city of Novo Mesto (Slovenia), 20 from the city of Varna (Bulgaria) and 6 from the city of Stockholm (Sweden).

Location / Dates: The event took place in Thessaloniki, Greece, from 30/03/2022 to 30/03/2022
Short description: The aim of the event was for the diverse body of stakeholders (policymakers, civil society organizations, volunteers, migrants and others) to come together in an international conference to disseminate the project results, as well as to raise awareness of the importance of the civil society solidarity movements in creating and maintaining a balance in our local communities. The aim of the Final Conference was to share and discuss common recommendations on a common European policy on migration and asylum and the role of the active European Citizen in terms of solidarity and volunteering. Renown speakers were invited to address our audience and present the solidarity presence in EU and international law, in the educational system, and gender aspect in solidarity movements.

Click here to see the Report

Testimonies of Participants

Act local, Act in solidarity, to minimize inequalities, to open up pathways for mutual understanding, compassion, acceptance, openness, and unity”

“To be honest, I had never heard of the Europe for Citizens programme. Actually, I never knew that Europe has such programmes where citizens can participate and meet each other, speak about our common concerns and try to find solutions together. I feel so excited having taken part in CI.SO.MO. training in Siatista and in Novo Mesto. You know, that we, citizens of Siatista, are somehow isolated from the mainland and sometimes I get the feeling that information does not reach our city”

Tania Katotikidou, participant from Siatista, Greece

“When the migration crisis burst in Greece in 2015, I felt so depressed watching in the news the struggles of those poor people, being forced to leave their homes, their lives, their beloved ones behind. I felt that I had to help them, but I couldn’t figure out where to start. I knew that I had to show them my solidarity with their efforts for a better life because my grandparents were migrants too and came to Thessaloniki from Asia Minor. I started supporting solidarity movements in my community by sending food, clothes, and any other utility. I decided that I needed to take part in CI.SO.MO. activities to connect with my peers and make EU a union of solidarity, not just a Union of nations, but a Union of loving people who support each other, who support any human being”.

Sofia Chotomanidou, participant from Thessaloniki, Greece

“I currently live in Sweden, a country with so many migrant people, that has a very well-structured supporting system for them. And I was wondering how come this country is so advanced in comparison to any other EU member-state. And I came to the conclusion that it’s not only the government’s policies, it’s also about educating people to accept the “others”. The reason I am here, taking part in CI.SO.MO. round table in Novo mesto, is to discuss with my fellow EU citizens how we can act together in solidarity for a better common future. Europe is not a stagnated institution, it’s always on the move, always changing, and as such has to be open and inclusive”.

Mason Adam, participant from Stockholm, Sweden

“When a friend of mine told me about the project, I thought that this is a good opportunity to see what other people think about migrants. You know, my mother is a migrant, and everybody was always referring to me as the child of the “foreigner” as if my mother didn’t have a name of her own. I was surprised that even today people are hostile towards migrants but I was also happily surprised that a load of people is working to help these people, to support them, to build a network of protection around them. This is solidarity, and I want to be part of the civil society solidarity movement”.

Dani Matev, participant from Varna, Bulgaria

“In the beginning, I came to the training, thinking that it will be just another EU funded project. But I was wrong. I met people from other countries who have the same concerns as I do, and I met people who have made their life target to support and help people in need, I learned what real solidarity is, how I can help my fellow citizens, and how to be an open-minded person. I think this experience made me a better person”.

Marco Kovačič, participant from Novo mesto, Slovenia