Press Releases

The University of Granada Explores ‘Intercultural Street Mediators’ Model from Turin

Granada, Spain 20­ 03- 2025– The University of Granada (UGR) is taking significant steps towards enhancing its mediation and conflict resolution strategies by studying the innovative approach of ‘intercultural street mediators’ in Turin, Italy:

Professor Antonio Lozano, coordinator of UGR’s Mediation Unit, has initiated a collaboration with Italian expert Giovanni Ghibaudi to explore innovative solutions for conflict resolution within complex social environments.

Professor Lozano has recently returned from a research stay in Rome as part of the Global-ANSWER project on migration and human mobility. His work has focused on understanding how Turin’s groundbreaking mediation model—one of the most advanced in Europe—can offer valuable insights for the University of Granada and beyond.

 

Antonio Lozano, professor and head of Mediation at the UGR.
  •  Antonio Lozano, professor and head of Mediation at the UGR.

The ‘intercultural street mediators’ initiative in Turin is a pioneering effort aimed at integrating migrants and refugees into the city by providing mediation services directly in public spaces. Unlike traditional mediation services confined to offices and reception centers, these mediators operate in the streets, markets, train stations, and hospitals—where migrant populations are most present. Many of these professionals have migrant backgrounds themselves, allowing them to foster trust and effective communication within these communities.

Professor Lozano’s collaboration with Giovanni Ghibaudi, a leader in mediation and restorative justice, seeks to assess the key operational elements of this model and determine their applicability to the University of Granada’s increasingly diverse university community. As the head of UGR’s Mediation Unit, a specialized service dedicated to promoting peaceful conflict resolution, Lozano underscores the importance of exploring innovative and collaborative approaches.

Giovanni Ghibaudi collaborator of the European Association CreE-A as a mediator and with the Mosaic Association of Turin.
  •  Giovanni Ghibaudi collaborator of the European Association CreE-A as a mediator and with the Mosaic Association of Turin.

“The project ‘Intercultural Mediators in the Street’ launched in Turin in 2001 demonstrates that mediation is not just about discussion—it is about connecting different worlds, not only in a cultural sense,” said Lozano. “We are particularly interested in how this initiative has empowered migrants to utilize available resources, develop relationships within the city, and contribute to the production of knowledge about their communities.”

The initiative has been highly successful in fostering social cohesion and understanding between migrants and host communities. It has also facilitated knowledge transfer regarding urban resources and intergenerational relationships within migrant populations. Lozano aims to integrate similar methodologies into the University of Granada to enhance mediation practices within its diverse academic community.

As part of his research, Professor Lozano collaborated with the National Foundation of Social Workers of Italy (FNAS), where he worked alongside experts such as Adolfo Torres and Magdalena Trillo from UGR’s Faculty of Sociology and Faculty of Communication. The research was supported by FNAS President Silvana Mordeglia, Gianmario Gazzi (Director and Coordinator of Technical Assistance), Renato Briante (Head of Projects), and Pina Ferraro (expert consultant in social work).

Images of Professor Lozano's meeting took place at the National Foundation of Social Workers of Italy (FNAS) with Adolfo Torres and Magdalena Trillo. FNAS was represented by its president, Silvana Mordeglia, along with key members including Gianmario Gazzi, Renato Briante, and Pina Ferraro.
  • Images of Professor Lozano's meeting that took place at the National Foundation of Social Workers of Italy (FNAS) with Adolfo Torres and Magdalena Trillo. FNAS was represented by its president, Silvana Mordeglia, along with key members including Gianmario Gazzi, Renato Briante, and Pina Ferraro.

FNAS, a non-profit organization representing over 48,000 registered social workers in Italy, plays a crucial role in advising the Italian government on migration policies, including the protocols established under the Zampa Law. The foundation’s involvement further enriches the collaboration and knowledge-sharing between Italian and Spanish institutions.

Through this initiative, the University of Granada reaffirms its commitment to fostering a culture of mediation and peaceful conflict resolution, leveraging international best practices to enhance social harmony within its academic environment and beyond.

Contact:
Antonio Lozano. Coordinator of the Mediation Unit of the UGR. E-mail: lozanoma@ugr.es

Dissemination and media impact in Spain regarding the activities promoted by the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Granada and the City Council

  • January 2025: Celebration of the III Global-ANSWER Coordination Meeting

    The Global-ANSWER project, led by the University of Granada’s Faculty of Social Work and funded by the European Union’s Horizon2020 program, is entering its final year. The project focuses on human mobility and migration, with over 200 mobility stays and fieldwork activities conducted by researchers and professionals from Spain, Italy, and Sweden. The network includes universities, local public administrations, and third-sector organizations, aiming to identify best practices in social work to improve policies for migrant integration while respecting human rights.

    This year began with the 3rd Global-ANSWER Coordination Meeting in Granada, attended by 40 participants from across Europe. The meeting provided an opportunity to analyze progress, address future challenges in social work, and strengthen international collaboration. The project has already completed several case studies, with additional results to be shared in academic forums. The initiative also focuses on building sustainable networks that extend beyond academia, influencing European social policies and fostering a collective commitment to justice and solidarity for vulnerable groups.

Coverage of the meeting in the media of Granada

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Promotion and media impact in Italy facilitated by FNAS

  • Participation of the FNAS team in the annual coordination meeting in Granada

    The 3rd Global-ANSWER Meeting, held in Granada, recently concluded, bringing together researchers and professionals in social work and human mobility from cities like Rome, Florence, Palermo, Lund, Madrid, La Rioja, and Lugo. Funded by European Union funds, the project aims to identify best practices and improve the inclusion of migrant populations.

    FNAS, represented by President Silvana Mordeglia, Planning Director Renato Briante, and expert consultant Pina Ferraro Fazio, shared the Italian perspective on social services, especially regarding the reception of unaccompanied minors. Mordeglia emphasized that "migrations should not be seen as a phenomenon or a problem, but as a structural element we must consider when planning our cities, lives, and services." During the three-day event (January 8-10), participants analyzed progress, discussed the future of social work in Europe, and explored ways to strengthen the Global-ANSWER network.

         Access the news in Italian on the official FNAS website

Silvana Mordeglia, president of FNAS

 

Palermo, A European Example of Reception

  • The Sai Palermo Program is Included as a Case Study in an International Project Led by the University of Granada, Funded by the EU

Palermo, February 5, 2024 - The city of Palermo has become the focal point of a week-long study held in Granada, Spain, where fifty researchers and professionals in social work and human mobility from Madrid, Rome, Florence, Lund, and Växjö participated in one of the European meetings of the "Global-ANSWER Project." This international research network, funded by the European Union, aims to identify best practices for improving the inclusion of migrant populations in Europe.

The collaborative work involved universities, including the University of Palermo, municipalities, and non-profit organizations. Together, they evaluated the initiative and developed a final roadmap for the project. The Sai Palermo program has been recognized as a best practice for migrant reception, promoting self-determination and autonomy through an integration process that equips migrants with skills for life outside the program.

Representing the City of Palermo, Dr. Angela Errore, responsible for the Casa dei Diritti unit and the three Sai integration projects, participated in the event. These include "Sai Msna," which provides for 200 unaccompanied minors; "Sai Ordinari," supporting 181 adults, including families with children; and "Sai Ds/Dm," which assists individuals with particular vulnerabilities and disabilities.

The Palermo Municipality's Sai projects are supported by eleven third-sector organizations. In Italy, the Sai system is managed by local entities accessing the National Asylum Fund to create integrated reception projects.

Belén Morata, lead researcher of Global-ANSWER, emphasized that the project's goal is to "identify local best practices" to guide Europe in improving social policies for the global and effective integration of migrant populations, with the utmost respect for human dignity.

Rosi Pennino, the Social Policies Councillor for the City of Palermo, affirmed, "Palermo is a city of welcome, doing so not only with its inherent solidarity but also with highly qualified social policies that organize pathways, strategies, opportunities, and integration at all levels."

The Global-ANSWER project, supported by 1.5 million euros under the EU Horizon 2020 program, runs from 2022-2025 and includes universities and municipalities in Spain, Italy, and Sweden, as well as non-governmental organizations like Red Acoge and Oxfam Italia.

Download the press release in Italian

Angela Errore, head of the Casa dei Diritti organizational unit and the three Sai-Sistema Accoglienza Integrazione projects of the City of Palermo.

News Coverage of the III Global ANSWER Meeting in Granada in Local Media of Palermo

EU-projektet 'Global Answer: Social Work and Human Mobility' är ett internationellt och sektorsövergripande nätverk av komparativ och kollaborativ forskning och praktik

The EU project "Global Answer: Social Work and Human Mobility" is an international and interdisciplinary network for comparative and collaborative research and practice. Its goal is to identify, analyze, and disseminate good examples of social work related to human mobility in the European countries involved in the project. The network includes universities, municipalities, and non-governmental organizations from across Europe.

Read in Swedish, Leer en sueco / äsa på svenska

Norma Montesino, in her speech at the III Global-ANSWER Meeting in Granada.

Research and Practice Meet at International Migration Conference

From January 8 to 10, nearly 40 researchers and professional social workers gathered in Granada for the third international Global-ANSWER conference. Participants from Rome, Florence, Palermo, Lund, Madrid, La Rioja, and Lugo discussed the project's progress in social work related to migration in Europe. The conference marked the culmination of the project, with discussions on achievements, future challenges for social work in Europe, and strategies to strengthen the network. Participants also defined the "Global Answer Social Innovation Model" and developed policy recommendations for asylum and refugee work within the EU. Project leader Professor Belén Morata emphasized the network's goal to identify good practices to improve social policies and migrant integration, respecting human rights. Juse Fernandez Cortes from Granada's social services highlighted the project's contributions to enhancing migrant reception and quality of life in Granada, noting that over forty social workers have participated and learned significantly. The project is now focusing on developing policy recommendations for the European Parliament on migration work, covering areas such as guaranteeing migrants' rights, social integration, resource management, intercultural dialogue, and sustainable solutions for challenges faced by migrants and host communities.

Access the full information in Swedish

The following links provide access to some of the promotional content about the Global-ANSWER project that has been shared by Lund University to raise public awareness of the initiative funded by the European Union under the Horizon 2020 program (goth in traditional media and on social media platforms such as Facebook):

UNIFI: Tuscany's 'White Paper' Inspires Best Practices in Refugee Reception

 

  • European Project GLOBAL ANSWER Highlights Replicable Models‘White Paper’ of the Tuscany Region

The Tuscany Region's 'White Paper' has become a cornerstone in developing effective and replicable best practices for the reception of individuals seeking international protection. This initiative is a focal point of the European project Global-ANSWER, which aims to enhance and standardise refugee reception protocols across member states.

The project underscores the importance of cohesive strategies and shared methodologies to ensure dignified and efficient support for those in need. By leveraging the insights from Tuscany's comprehensive framework, Global-ANSWER seeks to foster collaboration and implement scalable solutions throughout Europe.