BaoBat

Background

In 2001, the town of Portugalete (Bilbao, Vizcaya) had a migrant population of 1.5%, nowadays (2020) the figure is 7.7%. To respond to this demographic change, the BaoBat association was set up in 2012. BaoBat is an intercultural, apolitical, secular and non-profit volunteer association that works to promote the integration of migrants in Portugalete. The word BaoBat is the fusion of two words, Baobab (the African tree) and bat (1 is Basque language). The baoba tree has been used for centuries as a place where communities meet. It is a symbol of resistance, tolerance and community life. The BaoBat team is made up entirely of volunteers from different backgrounds. It is an open space of welcome and meeting.

Objective

• To achieve the integration of the migrant population in the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country through their participation in different areas of the public and/or social sphere.
• To improve the living conditions of migrants through social intervention.
• Raising awareness among the Basque society about migration.
• To provide intercultural spaces in which to work on cultural diversity.
• To advocate for the quality of life of migrants and for their equal access to public resources.

Activities

• Courses: Spanish classes, literacy classes and training workshops.
• Socio-labour guidance 
• Health promotion 
• Guidance in training processes
• Social counselling and monitoring of insertion processes.
• Cultural and sports activities.
• Intercultural awareness-raising activities.
• Promotion of voluntary work.
• Activities that promote participation in community life.
• Networking with other public and third sector entities.
• Training actions towards participation and institutional support for migrant associations. o Policy dialogue with public bodies to nurture and guide social and migration policies.
• Support: Food Bank, distribution of clothes and medicines, transport grants...

Results

Integration: Integration is the result of reciprocal efforts and commitments. BaoBat takes as an analogy the tree that is planted in another place, if migration is an uprooting, for rooting it requires fertile soil... This means that in order to feel at home, the will of the person who migrates is not enough. The attitude of the host society towards cultural diversity and the way migrants are received also play an important role. That is why BaoBat is a place of meeting, of getting to know each other. We like to define ourselves as a "big family". BaoBat follows a concept of global integration. People go from being recipients of an initial welcome and different social intervention actions, to being immersed in a process of circular insertion in which they are offered the chance to form part of the organisation as volunteers.

People being served : People who are marginalised

Number of participants : 251-500

Project status : Ongoing

Focus of the project : People

JPIC Imperative : Welcoming People on the Move

UN Sustainable Development Goals :