All of Us
The Local Challenge
Zagreb is experiencing a growing population of migrants and refugees from Ukraine, the Middle East, and South America. While the city is diverse, newcomers often face animosity, prejudice, and marginalisation. At the same time, the local population has few opportunities for meaningful contact, which can reinforce stereotypes and distance.
The Initiative
This initiative aims to connect local residents and migrant communities in Zagreb. Migrants receive free library cards, enabling access to workshops and cultural activities, including language lessons, digital skills workshops for navigating e-Citizens services, and art workshops.
Language learning is made lively through theater exercises, games, and storytelling, while digital skills workshops help newcomers navigate essential services like the e-Citizens portal. At the same time, migrants bring their own traditions into the space, through music, crafts, and food, from African drumming to tea ceremonies and babywearing practices. Readings in Croatian are happening alongside stories in Kurdish, Arabic, Farsi, and Ukrainian, and exhibitions showcase the work of migrant artists. Each activity opens a door to dialogue, turning the library into a place where migration is celebrated as a vital part of the city’s cultural and social life.
What’s Next?
The initiative hopes to expand across more libraries in Zagreb. Future plans include additional workshops, exhibitions, and collaborative events designed around migration in 2026. In the long term, the goal is to position libraries in Zagreb as central spaces of intercultural exchange, where locals and migrants build neighborly bonds, challenge prejudice, and create a more inclusive community together.
Contact theeuropechallenge@culturalfoundation.eu if you have any questions or want to be connected with the team behind the project.
