Myths & Facts about Immigrants (Portugal and EU)

Migration: Myths and facts

Objectives

. To distinguish myths and facts about immigration in Portugal

. To deconstruct prejudice about immigrants  in each country partner

. To foster curiosity and open-minded

. To develop skills of critical analysis

 

Expected Outcomes

In the end the participants will be able to overcome myths relative to migration

Target group

Nationals

Youth, Adults

Number of participants: 12 – 50 people

 

Degree of expertise needed - 3

The amount of work to prepare and implement the scenario - 4

Relative overall cost predicted - 1

 

Duration

2h 30 min (with one break of 15 min)

Space

Up to 25 participants: chairs disposed in U

More than 25 participants: room with capacity for large audience

 

Resources

Video-projector; markers;  pens; slides (Annex 2); copy of 2 questionnaires per person; for the timekeeping he/she should have a clock or a mobile phone

 

Preparation

It demands a research work about the main national migration data of the country in which the workshop will be held, in order to gather information such as:

1. Myths associated to immigrants, opinions and ideas that are unfounded, generalized in society, transmitted at school, in the workplace, by the media, that exists in the partner country;

2. The most updated information as possible about statistic numbers in each partner country regarding to:

- Number of immigrants and emigrants;

- Immigrant’s contribution rate for social security;

- Immigrant’s crime rate;

- Unemployment national rate;

- Other specific information available in the official public bodies (at National and European countries).

Using collected data the facilitator has to prepare and print the questionnaires for all participants (two per participant).

 

Conduction

Introduction

Session’s presentation: facilitators, participants, objectives and sequence; expected time.

Introduction Game for presenting the facilitator and each participant. (15 min)

For a group up to 25 participants:

− Each participant receives a sheet with a list of issues/hobbies (Annex 1).

− Each participant has to match each hobby with all participants which does or likes to do the same thing, and check it in his/her list.

For larger group:

The facilitator asks to each participant: her/his name; place of residence; expectations about this session.

 

Activities

Step 1 - Exercise “Diagnosis Questionnaires Myths & Facts” (10 min)

 

The facilitator gives to each participant a questionnaire to fill out.  After completing the questionnaires, they keep it for themselves. It’s not expected that participants reveal the answers they wrote.

 

Step 2 - Review of the definitions: fact and myth (10 min)

The facilitator addresses a question to the group - “What is a Myth?” and asks for 3 or 4 volunteers to answer the question.

 

Step 3 - Presentation of facts and statistics regarding immigrants (Portugal and EU; 1 hour)

 

The facilitator exposes (PowerPoint or other support) the information about myths and facts regarding immigrants:

− Are immigrants invading us?

− Do immigrants come to our country to take our jobs?

− Is immigration harmful to our social security?

− Do immigrants increase criminality in our country?

Note: The facilitator can bring some news that suggest connections between immigration and criminality.

 

Step 4 – Filling the same questionnaire (10 min)

The facilitator distributes, again, to the participants the questionnaires, to be filled.

After the participants complete the questionnaire, the facilitator asks them, in plenary, if the answers each one wrote in the beginning of the session were different from the ones they wrote in the end of the presentation.

 

Debriefing

The facilitator and the participants to reflect, in plenary, on the results of the activities and make explicit the obtained learning's. The group reflects on how the learning can be transposed to the personal and professional contexts of the participants.

The facilitator invites the participants to think and share with the group some examples how myths about immigration can be deconstructed, in our daily lives.(30 m)

 

Support tools

− Attendance list;

− Hobbies’ List

− Questionnaire “Myths and facts about immigration”

− Powerpoint presentation Myths and facts about immigration

− Brochure “Imigração em Portugal – Os Mitos e os Factos”.

− News suggesting connections between immigration and criminality.

− Evaluation exercise: The 5 fingers of a hand: (15 min)

− Thumb - what I considered cool?

− Forefinger: what I point out (for good or for bad)?

− Middle finger: what I considered bad?

− Ring finger: my relation with the group of participants?

− Little finger: what was not enough?

 

Inspiration

https://www.iom.int/world-migration

http://www.acm.gov.pt/

http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/data/indicators2/index.shtml

Documentary “Waiting for Europe”, de Christine Reeh (2006), 58 min.

Film “Transe”, de Teresa Villaverde (2006), 126 min.

 

Ideas for action

1. In order to be done in each partner’s country is necessary a previous research work about facts and statistics about Immigrants in that country. The facilitator has to prepare a presentation with these facts and statistics (similar to the one presented here, in Annex 2).

2. To analyse and criticize the opinions of your peers and media communication about immigrants, in your daily life.

 

ANNEXES

Annex 1: Hobbies’ List

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Annex 2: Myths and Facts about Immigration (PowerPoint Presentation)

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Annex 3: Questionnaire Myths & Facts

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