About the project

Between February and April 2009 Homo Faber Association together with the Culture Department of the Town Hall in Lublin carried out a research within the foreign students’ community in our city. The research entitled “Lublin is friendly” was the basis for a report. Working with the report Homo Faber Association prepared a project called “Welcome to Lublin” which started in July 2009. 

Below we present the main guidelines and measures planned as part of the project. We also encourage you to first acquaint yourself with the report “Lublin is friendly”. Its arguments justify the research that we are planning to carry out. In the realization of the project we are hoping to co-operate with the institutions of higher education located in Lublin.

The project “Welcome to Lublin” is addressed to foreigners who live or study in Lublin. During its course we would like to give foreigners and people who most often are in contact with them an opportunity to meet and to understand their mutual needs. We are going to prepare an inquiry desk and an internet portal through which we will try to solve as many everyday problems as possible. Moreover, we are also going to offer trips, meetings and workshops that will provide foreign students with an opportunity to get to know our city and learn how to function in it. We are also going to reach all the institutions and companies that are in contact  with foreigners and will try to encourage them to take part in a training programme concentrating on  foreign cultures and their traditions, and also introducing language basics. Finally, at the end of our programme we are going to prepare directives thanks to which the quality of foreigners’ life in Lublin should significantly improve. 

1. The basic activity will be preparing and launching an inquiry desk. The Centre, accessible for everyone, advertising its services in the places most frequently visited by foreigners, would first of all help find solutions for problems that foreigners face in our country. The inquiry desk will also be a platform where information can be exchanged and where people can learn about the integration activities in Lublin. Additionally, we intend to create a special telephone line available not only to foreigners, but also to people who are in contact with them. Running period: during the first year the project will be prepared (first 6 months) and launched (2010-2011). 

2. Another task will consist in preparing and performing three periodical activities “Welcome to Lublin”. The goal is to greet the newcomers and establish first contact with the newly arrived students. The foreigners will be invited to participate in 4 walks thanks to which they will get to know Lublin: its most important offices, its culture, its sports activities, and its recreational facilities. During these trips they will also meet the people who are in charge of these institutions. Running period: October – December 2009, 2010, 2011 

3. The next step is organizing training for the employees of the institutions and companies who are often in contact with foreigners. The training will cover legal aspects, procedures concerning integration, antidiscrimination as well as certain elements of the languages and cultures of the most numerable foreign groups in Lublin. Running period: October – December 2009, January-March 2010 

4. We are also planning to organize training for the foreigners concerning the basics of the Polish language and Polish culture and history while taking into consideration the local specificity. Within the framework of this project we will prepare a round of visits and meetings with important people in Lublin. Running period: October-December 2009, January-May 2010, October-December 2010, January-May 2011. 

5. We will also monitor the project - its progress and effects - during its duration. We are planning to prepare a yearly report that will include suggestions concerning better cooperation and integration with foreigners living in Lublin. Running period: June-December 2009, January-December 2010, January-December 2011 

6. Another aspect of the project consists in preparing, launching and updating the www service for foreigners in English, Ukrainian and Belorussian. The service will be advertised by the public and private institutions which are in contact with foreigners. Realization period: preparation of the service – 10.2009, launching and updating. Running period: November-December 2009, January-December 2010, January-December 2011.

7. Last but not least, we are planning to prepare the publication of a calendar containing the most important information about the city, holidays, events and contacts with the most important institutions with a variety of multilingual cultural and social events. During the whole project we will design and prepare posters and leaflets informing people about the activities. Running period: September-November 2009, September-November 2010, September-November 2011.