About OCC
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Open Cultural Center is a non-governmental organization active in Spain and Greece and formed by volunteers who develop educational, cultural, and awareness projects to support refugee and migrant communities in Europe.
Our objective is to enhance the social and economic integration of migrants at a local level, and to be an important voice advocating for policies that protect the rights of migrants and favor their inclusion within a diverse European society. OCC wants to strongly contribute to an inclusive society without barriers to the legal, social, and economic participation of migrants. In this sense, OCC promotes an equal and valued position in society for everyone. OCC equips migrants with tools to access opportunities and build a future while advancing equality and inclusion within local communities, through intercultural exchange, education, and advocacy.
This is based on a fundamental belief in the equality of people, regardless of country of origin, language, religion, or immigration status. A community-led model means working in partnership with the community we are supporting, respecting them as the experts in their experience and needs.
We seek to enable leaders from within the community, especially youth, and see the community as partners in the work, not as 'beneficiaries'. This is an anti-racist approach, and we believe it is ethically and morally correct, as well as allowing us to achieve a greater impact with our work.
The community-led model has the following benefits:
We can work with a clearer picture of the needs, vulnerabilities and strengths of our community
We are better able to maintain effective channels of communication with the community, and can listen as well as distribute information
We can work against the sense of powerlessness that the asylum and migration legal framework in Europe forces upon refugees
We can build trust within the community because the approach is based on dignity and respect
