In 2015 representatives of migrant communities organized, in cooperation with the IOM Migration Information Centre (MIC), 25 different events attended by 2,400 visitors where they presented their culture and promoted the social life of their communities. Here is a selection of events which were organized during this fruitful year of multicultural events.

In April 2015, during the 10th annual festival [fjúžn] seven migrant communities presented their culture and gastronomy at the Old Market in Bratislava on the event Sunday Parade. Among others, Taras Shevchenko ensemble played Ukrainian songs, and Latin America was represented by the Mexican Mariachis and traditional Cuban band performing on the main stage. Musical festival continued  with a singer from Afghanistan, and also with the first time public dance performances of the Thai community in Slovakia.

Find more information about the Sunday Parade. 

We Are at Home Here - new type of multicultural events organized by the MIC took place in different regions of Slovakia. During April in Prešov and Žilina MIC organized an open discussion with migrants, an exhibition of photographs from Afghanistan, Indian and Vietnamese food tasting and finally energetic musical performance of a Cuban band. The series of events continued in May in cooperation with PDCS in Banska Bystrica and Košice, where the focus was on the culture of Africa and celebration of the Africa Day.

Find more information on We Are Here At Home events.

MIC also organized the annual and traditional Ecuadorian Film Festival, Festival Visual Brazil and Latin American Film Festival with a presentation of interesting cinematography from these countries.

In the second half of 2015 the Indian community in Slovakia for the first time in collaboration with MIC in Bratislava celebrated the festival of lights – Diwali. Year 2015 ended with the international event Colours of Christmas, celebrated by members of Russian speaking, Indian and Latin American community and their friends in Kosice through dance, food and music.

In 2015, MIC cooperated with 21 cultural mediators. The MIC mediators are representatives of migrant associations or informal representatives of communities of foreigners, who know the communities and expats living in Slovakia. With the MIC support mediators organize events that represent the culture of their country; they support the social life of the community, help community members to create space for mutual understanding between communities and the majority society. MIC also builds the capacity of representatives of migrant communities; in 2015 MIC provided training on project development to 11 mediators.

Migration Information Centre to Support Integration of Migrants in Slovakia (phase VII) – Individual project. The project was co-funded by the European Union from the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals. Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows.

In 2015, provision of the comprehensive services of the IOM Migration Information Centre was co-funded by the Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic.