Overall objectives of the project are;
-To build a new cooperation between Turkish municipalities and EU municipalities;
-To ensure communication bridge between Turkish municipalities and EU municipalities, thus allowing a better awareness of the opportunities and challenges of the future enlargement
-To provide mutual exchange of experiences between Turkey and EU by learning and implementing EU policy on integration of migrants;
-To enhance capacity of Turkish municipalities to meet the European integration policy standards;
-To transfer from EU countries to Turkey the relevant experience and know-how in the field of integration of migrants
-To support Turkish municipalities helping to deliver high quality municipal services in this field.
Specific objectives of the project are;
-To establish long term cooperatıon and endorsement of dialogue between Turkish, Belgian, Austrian and German Municipalities by exchanging best practices (methods, techniques, information and know-how) on integration of migrants.
-To enhance capacity of Zeytinburnu, Bağcılar, Eminönü Municipalities, Union of Municipalities of Marmara Region – UMMR, Bozat and Piraziz Municipalities to deal with migration related problems and to develop a framework for the integration of migrants on the local level by transferring good practices from EU municipalities.

Estimated results:
1. Building a professional management system 2. Training of 20 municipal workers and 10 NGO workers 3. Experience and lessons acquired through the project are shared with municipalities, concerned NGOs and other institutions via dissemination of reports and books. 4. Long term sustainable cooperation and promotion of dialogue between Zeytinburnu, Bağcılar, Piraziz, Bozat, UMMR, Friedrichshain Kreuzberg Municipality and Beringen Municipality. 5. Establishment of Integration Center in Zeytinburnu Municipality

Main Activities:
-Promotion of the project (via kick-off meeting, brochure and webpage)
- Training Course for Increasing the Capacity of Local Governments to deal with integration of migrants
- Study Visit to Germany and Belgium
- Creating Integration Center in Zeytinburnu Municipality
- Thematic Meetings in Istanbul, Germany and Belgium
- Publishing of handbook for integration of migrants for local governments and NGOs
- Publishing the Project’s booklet.

We developed learning materials directly targeting migrant integration

We apply specific protocols to assist migrants and/or have implemented methodologies for migrant services

We cooperate with local authorities, including public bodies and institutions and international institutions or NGOs

We provide supporting services to migrants, such as: psychological support, mentoring, health guidance, legal counselling, assistance with legal procedures, translation/interpretation services, number of contact points/facilities, counselling, social support, housing support, existence of facilities for temporary housing, among others

We provide training to migrants (example: language courses or facilitating/supporting children’s education and adults’ further education)

This project meets two main needs; the first is to foster civil society dialogue between Turkey and EU, the second is to enhance the capacity of Turkey on EU Acquis in the fields of integration and migrants. For the first need, neither Turkish society has enough information about and interaction with the European Union and the European people, nor do the Europeans have enough information about and interaction with Turkish people. Secondly, Turkey attracts and sends lots of migrants. Yet, Turkey and Turkish municipalities do not have systematic social services and integration policy towards migrants. The EU Acquis criteria on migration and integration issues and best practices of Europe are not enough known and implemented in Turkey. The project will bridge these two gaps.
The capacity of Turkish municipalities to deal with migrants, to develop local integration and diversity management policy and to provide the necessary social and cultural services towards immigrant communities needs to be developed.
Special municipal units with adequately trained staff dealing with immigrants should be established to provide the necessary services. The rich experience of the European local governments in the field of immigration/integration/diversity management is not well known among Turkish municipalities. So experience exchange, supervision and cooperation will be established in order to help Turkish Municipalities to develop their local integration initiatives.

Values of The Good Practice
The project had provided the establishment of special municipal units for migration and integration related services which would be the first experience in Turkey. It is an example for other municipalities in Turkey. It has provided the training of related personnel and increase
d the quality of services, which again would be the first experience in Turkey. As an output of the project, a handbook on integration of migrants for Turkish local governments was published. Such handbook is a new contribution to the municipal services.

Methodologies:
Promotion of the project: Organizing a kick off meeting to which representatives of Istanbul municipalities, concerned NGOs, institutions and press will be invited; printing a brochure that will include information on the project and the issue; designing a webpage.
Training course for increasing capacity of local governments to deal with integration of migrants: Training of local municipal and NGO workers on the issues of European integration, equal treatment, multiculturalism, social inclusion and other relevant policies, best practices in Europe. For each session verbal presentation of the topic (with pictures, diagrams, maps, etc. if need), sharing knowledge, ideas or questions about the topic, answers and comments on conversations will take place. Trainings will be practical and interactive: case studies, collective research, data analyzes, collective evaluation of the achievements, etc
Study visits to Belgium and Germany: observation and exchange of knowledge, techniques and know-how. Information on local governance systems, local policy of integration of migrants, best practices etc. Workshop to analyze and discuss models and study on future dialogue and cooperation
Integration Unit: Creation of an Integration Unit – field works, consultation and rehabilitation services will be maintained. A model strategic plan will be prepared
Good governance: An advising committee will be gathered with local actors. Meetings, to analyze the migration process, to evaluate the conditions and to determine what to do, will be held. The committee will be active while making the strategic plan of the integration unit
Thematic workshops: Bringing together the municipalities and NGOs, giving possibility for establishment of direct contacts between European and Turkish actors, sharing the best practices and experiences
Edition of Handbook on Integration for Local Governments and NGOs (in Turkish): key information on local dimension of migration and integration of migrants, on the rich experience of European cities, regions and countries in the fields of integration, social inclusion and active participation of migrants
Edition of project booklet: Publishing and delivering a project booklet

Building a professional management system
Training of 20 municipal workers and 10 NGO workers
Training materials (Presentations prepared for the lectures, articles and practices examined during the courses, etc)
Experience and lessons acquired through the project are shared with municipalities, concerned NGOs and other institutions via dissemination of reports and books.
1000 copies of handbook on social services of local governments for integration of migrants
Long term sustainable cooperation and promotion of dialogue between Zeytinburnu, Bağcılar, Piraziz, Bozat, UMMR, Friedrichshain Kreuzberg Municipality and Beringen Municipality
Establishment of Integration Center in Zeytinburnu Municipality
Strategic plan of the Integration Unit (will be included in the published documents and delivered to the municipalities)
1000 copies of project booklet (will be delivered to the municipalities, NGOs and other concerned institutions)