Zes studenten van de Vives Hogeschool in Kortrijk deden, voor het vak Transnational Social Work en begeleid door Commons Lab, veldonderzoek naar zogenaamde ‘migrant organizations’ en hun commons aspecten. De studenten goten hun volledige rapport in een blog die u hieronder kan lezen.

Discover how migrant organizations (MOs) are an invaluable actor in community resilience and support in this thesis, written by six transnational social work students and in collaboration with Commons Lab. Our bachelor's thesis dives deep into the roles these organizations play in enriching community life and helping in the integration and preservation of cultural identities.

We explain why we chose to use the term ‘migrant organization’ as well as introduce some possible connections between MOs and Commons. We looked into federal and local policies that apply to these MOs with a critical eye. But our exploration didn't stop at the theoretical level: we were present at the ‘KRAC’ festival to map out how diverse the city is and conducted surveys amongst the visitors.

Most importantly, we had the pleasure to talk to nine MOs active in Kortrijk about their impact and visibility and the barriers they face. Based on these interviews, we highlight how MOs tackle critical issues such as a lack of financial support and the sometimes closed minds of the world around them.

We brought these discussions to life at our "Bridging Communities" roundtable event in Kortrijk. This gathering was more than just a meeting; it was a vibrant discussion platform involving six migrant organizations, representatives from Commons Lab, and a local politician. Even with these different actors, we created an equal and safe space. The event fostered deep conversations on four topics:

The role of MOs in building resilient communities: Participants discussed what community resilience means and shared stories of their organizations' efforts to strengthen their communities.
Balancing cultural preservation and integration: We explored how MOs can help migrants retain their cultural identity while also adapting to and integrating in new environments.
The importance of (official) recognition: The discussion focused on how formal recognition enhances the existence and impact of MOs.
MOs and political engagement: We tried to explain why MOs stay away from politics and delved into possible barriers and opportunities when engaging in politics.

Each roundtable discussion was filled with insights and stories, illustrating the everyday challenges and successes of these organizations. Our creative reporters captured these dialogues through live sketches and notes, bringing a visual element to our findings.

As we ended the evening, the shared sentiment was clear: MOs are essential in fostering inclusive and resilient communities. They not only support their members but also enrich the broader society by promoting cultural diversity and social cohesion. Their contribution to our society goes far beyond their cooking and music. Deep and hard conversations like these need to be had more if we want to work towards an inclusive city. Let’s learn and do better.