Between February and April 2009 Homo Faber Association together with the Culture Department of the Town Hall in Lublin carried out a research within the foreign students’ community in our city. The research entitled “Lublin is friendly” was the basis for a report. Working with the report Homo Faber Association prepared a project called “Welcome to Lublin” which started in July 2009. The project is sponsored by the European Union within the framework of the European Fund for the Integration of Third-country Nationals and the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. Below we present the main guidelines and the main measures planned as part of the project. We also encourage you to first acquaint yourself with the report “Lublin is friendly”. Its arguments justify the research that we are planning to carry out. In the realization of the project we are hoping to co-operate with the institutions of higher education located in Lublin.
 
The project “Welcome to Lublin” is addressed to foreigners who live or study in Lublin. During its realization we would like to give foreigners and people who most often are in contact with them an opportunity to meet and to understand their mutual needs. We are going to prepare an inquiry desk and an internet portal through which we will try to solve as many everyday problems as possible. Moreover, we are also going to offer trips, meeting and workshops to the students from abroad that would provide them with an opportunity to get to know our city and learn how to function in it. We are also going to reach all the institutions and companies that are in contact foreigners and try to encourage them to take part in the training programme concentrating on the foreign cultures and their traditions, and also introducing language basics. Finally, at the end of our programme we are going to prepare directives thanks to which the quality of foreigners’ life in Lublin should significantly improve. 

1. The basic activity will be preparing and launching the inquiry desk. The Centre, accessible for everyone, advertising its services in the places most frequently visited by foreigners, would first of all help find solutions for problems that foreigners face in our country. The inquiry desk will also be a platform where information can be exchanged and where people can learn about the integration activities in Lublin. Additionally, we intend to create a special telephone line available not only to foreigners, but also to people who are in contact with them. Realization period: during the first year there will be preparing (first 6 months) and launching the project (2010-2011).
 
2. Another task will consist in preparing and performing three periodical activities “Welcome to Lublin”. The goal is to greet the newcomers and establish first contact with the newly arrived students. The foreigners will be invited to participate in 4 walks thanks to which they will get to know Lublin; its most important offices, its culture, its sport activities, and its recreational facilities. During these trips they will also meet the people who are in charge of these institutions. Realization period: October – December 2009, 2010, 2011

3. The next step is organizing training for the employees of the institutions and companies who often are in contact with foreigners. The training will cover legal aspects, procedures concerning integration, antidiscrimination as well as certain elements of the languages and cultures of the most numerable foreign groups in Lublin. Realization period: October – December 2009, January-March 2010
 
4. We are also planning to organize training for the foreigners concerning the basics of the Polish language and Polish culture and history while taking into consideration the local specificity. Within the framework of this project we will prepare a round of visits and meetings with important people in Lublin. Realization period: October-December 2009, January-May 2010, October-December 2010, January-May 2011.
 
5. We will also monitor the project - its progress and effects - during its duration. We are planning to prepare a yearly report that will include suggestions concerning better cooperation and integration with foreigners living in Lublin. Realization period: June-December 2009, January-December 2010, January-December 2011
 
6. Another aspect of the project consists in preparing, launching and updating the www service for foreigners in English, Ukrainian and Belorussian. The service will be advertised by the public and private institutions which are in contact with foreigners. Realization period: preparation of the service – 10.2009, launching and updating. Realization period: November-December 2009, January-December 2010, January-December 2011.
 
7. Last but not least, we are planning to prepare the publication of a calendar containing the most important information about the city, holidays, events and contacts with the most important institutions with a variety of multilingual cultural and social events. During the whole project we will design and prepare posters and leaflets informing people about the activities. Realization period: September-November 2009, September-November 2010, September-November 2011.