The Europe Challenge

The Local Challenge

The Marino College is situated in a traditionally working class part of the city, with some marginalisation of communities and increasing gentrification. This is contributing to an erosion of the traditional community spirit of the area, which the local residents association is working hard to preserve. The area has become a flashpoint for anti-immigration protests, with political and hate groups stirring up local tensions in the inner-city community, to their advantage. This challenge will focus on combating prejudice to bring a more understanding, inclusive, collaborative vision for the shared community. 

 The Initiative  

Building on their first Culture Festival, opening the school to the local community to celebrate diversity, last year they organised a Creative Minds Festival. With a parade around the neighbourhood, they celebrated the local area’s diversity and biodiversity together with the school library. This year’s festival goes further with an additional collaboration with the Marino Residents Association; celebrating common interests and learning from one another’s wealth of history, culture and experience. 

What’s Next?

Going forward, the project partners would like to work more directly with local groups and schools to ensure the entire community feels seen, heard, understood and respected, especially given the divisive nature of the local anti-immigrant protests. The library also has an ambition to be able to fund community initiatives that would benefit everyone and allow for a whole-community cultural exchange and celebration, to be delivered in a more sustainable way. 

Contact theeuropechallenge@culturalfoundation.eu if you have any questions or want to be connected with the team behind the project.