TITLE OF THE PUBLICATION
Mainstreaming diversity – Analytical collection of intervention tools to foster diversities
« Développer le mainstreaming de la diversité »
Recueil analytique d'outils d'intervention pour la valorisation des diversités
SURNAME AND NAME OF AUTHOR(S)
Various authors
PUBLISHER
IRFAM (Institut de Recherche, Formation et Action sur les Migrations)
PLACE AND DATE OF PUBLICATION
Liège - 2010
LANGUAGE OF THE DOCUMENT
French
LANGUAGE OF THE REVIEW
English
THEMATIC AREA
Integration of immigrants students
DESCRIPTION OF CONTENTS
This collective work is part of a mainstreaming process to transfer innovating practices ethno-socio-cultural diversity management.
The authors distinguish three dimensions in the historical management of diversities:
• Fight against prejudices based on negative preconceptions, stereotypes ...
• Compensation of prejudices suffered due to a failing to access dominant codes and norms
• Development of transversal skills to manage and foster diversities
The first dimension is defined as such “fight against discriminations”, the second “fight against inequalities” and the third “education to diversity/ies”. In the latter the authors make mostly a stand.
Continuing education to diversity consists in taking into account all the previous elements, giving them a meaning and making possible the development of new adaptation skills: individual, group or institutional “intercultural skills” aiming to foster each and everyone for the common good.
Education to diversity is a transversal question that concerns all the sectors in cultural life. It requires setting up “plans” within associations, companies, municipalities … that might make mentalities progress and emphasizing the opportunities and assets of diversity. This in-depth work needs to be supported by professionals that are trained, tooled and mandated to “mainstream” diversity.
This manual can make tasks easier for agents and trainers to foster sociocultural diversities. It is addressed to institutions and associations concerned by the management of ethno-cultural diversities among young and adult audiences.
COMMENTS ON THIS PUBLICATION
Most tools (methodological sheets) were created during various researches and actions by IRFAM or its members and partners. Originally, they are intervention and awareness tools against discriminations or highlighting diversities.
Therefore these tools have been tested many times, in research as well as training contexts. They have been validated in various spaces with different audiences in terms of origins, status, functions, ages ...
But the authors warn the reader: the tools are not universal and their use in groups must be the object of an in-depth thought by the team.
For the authors, the objective of education to the fight against discriminations and to highlight diversities should be to lead the way of a collective action. They thus insist on the importance to use the proposed interventions and activities to meet the Other and support the cooperation with families, cultural associations, thematic networks, resource groups and specific institutions.
Name of Compiler
Julien Keutgen
Name of Institution
Inforef
Role in the institution
Translator – project assistant
