Community strategies for intercultural participation

Abstract

Faced with the demands of globalization Social Work has a key role in promoting community development. The relationship between Social Work and Human Rights focuses on values and principles essential to the integration of any person regardless of their social, economic, and cultural context. Through a study of social work praxis in an intercultural community context with immigrants, secondary statistical data were analysed, a semi-structured interview was applied to social workers and a categorical content analysis was chosen to treat the data. The results allowed us to realize that social workers appeal to an ethical and ontological matrix in relation to individuals, families, groups and communities and that community development intervention in the field of social policies implies participation strategies in favour of citizenship and Human Rights.

Protection of Immigrant Children and Youth at Risk: Experiences and Strategies of Social Integration in Portugal

“…Accordingly, the integration process based on interculturality ensures rights, guaranteeing equal opportunities and social justice. There is a mutual adaptation between the host society and immigrants to form an integrated whole [9]. Ethnic and cultural differences are present and need attention in society, where immigrant children and young people should feel welcomed.…”

“…The reception and support of immigrant families is a central aspect for their integration in the countries of destination. Interculturality, which is based on the strengthening of relationships and participation in the host societies, is a positive interaction between cultures, providing dialogue between parties [9,44]. In this sense, intervention teams with immigrant children and young people can develop intervention strategies that present themselves as positive practices for a more cohesive society, with solidarity and recognition of the value of cultural diversity.…”

“…Portugal is a country with a history of immigrant integration and family reunification processes, which aim to combat inequalities and social exclusion [8,9]. Multiple social inequalities have influenced the processes of integration and development in the contexts where immigrant children, young people and descendants of immigrants are found [10][11][12].…”

“…Social interventions focusing on social integration have social cohesion with their scope [9,14]. A diversity of experiences, projects and programmes that use networking for social intervention with immigrant/immigrant-descendant and refugee children and young people marks the Portuguese context.…”