ref:EU Workshop
One of the core activities of the ref:EU project is the workshop on Muslim minorities and the refugee crisis in Europe for NGOs, media representatives as well as young researchers, professionals and activists. Our intensive, interdisciplinary and cross-sector event was held from 30th August to 3rd September 2018 at the SGH Warsaw School of Economics in Poland. It gathered 31 participants from from 17 countries with very diversified background. It aimed at providing a combination of knowledge, practical tools and skills which would enable participants to understand the peculiarity of the refugee crisis and attitudes towards Muslims in the EU and CEE region.
The main component of the workshop were interactive classes run by experts – both researchers and practitioners – specializing in migration and refugee studies, EU studies, Arab and Muslim studies as well as media and communication studies. The classes covered the following topics:
- “Migration and refugee crisis in Europe” and “Integration of refugees in Poland. The example of Warsaw” by Marta Pachocka and Dominik Wach,
- “Muslims in Poland” and “Deconstructing Islamophobia” by Katarzyna Górak-Sosnowska
- “Islamophobia: manifestations and responses” by Đermana Šeta,
- “What does social psychology have to say about fighting prejudices?” by Joanna Grzymała-Moszczyńska,
- “Does the West have problem with Islam?” by Janusz Danecki,
- “Convincing inconvincible workshop” by Anetta Janowska,
- “Media rhetoric and media conditions: main narratives about refugees in press” and “Ways of persuasion against negative narratives – techniques of counter argumentation” by Jacek Wasilewski.
Workshop participants also had the opportunity to visit the Museum of the History of Polish Jews – POLIN to learn more about a 1000-year history, culture and presence of Jews in Poland. Additional social events were organized after classes by the participants themselves to get to know each other better and network.
The workshop was complemented by the NGO Roundtable Working Meeting with Polish NGOs held on 4th September at the university premises. It was co-organized by the Middle East and Central Asia Unit of the Department of Political Studies of the Collegium of Socio-Economics at the SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Ocalenie Foundation from Warsaw and Jean Monnet Module EUMIGRO. The work carried out as part of the event was focused on four main topics: children and migration, psychological aspects of migration, women and migration and challenging Islamophobia. The NGO Roundtable was attended by 30 persons, including ref:EU workshop participants.
The workshop was coordinated by Katarzyna Górak-Sosnowska from the SGH Warsaw School of Economics, and strongly supported by Irena Senator.
