The project responded to the problem of exclusion of migrants. The age structure of migrants has recently changed, with more and more people aged 55 and over settling in Poland (according to the UDSC, more than 16,000 people aged 60-79 received a residence permit in 2019). Their situation is particularly difficult due to their lack of Polish language skills. Meanwhile, among Poles, it is the elderly who are far more friendly towards migrants than the rest of society (CBOS, 2017). During the year and a half of the project, the situation of people with migration experience has changed significantly due to the humanitarian crisis on the Polish-Belarusian border, the evacuation of people from Afghanistan and the Russian aggression in Ukraine. These growing needs have mobilised more people to volunteer.

The project launched an Intercultural Initiatives Incubation Programme, where migrants and people 60+ organised various integration events such as intercultural dances, walks, picnic, cooking workshops. A volunteer support network was also set up to link both social groups, offering them training to improve their intercultural and translation skills, participation in crisis intervention workshops and talks between seniors and migrants. Members of the network also participated in meetings with NGOs and study visits to cultural institutions open to the idea of volunteering. The project promoter also organised a conference to promote the participation of people with migration experience and people over 60 in society.

More than 160 people participated in intercultural initiatives, while 15 people aged 60+ and 39 people with migration experience were involved in the support network. As many as 185 people received in-kind support and 34 received translation support. By participating in the project, people 60+ and people with migration experience took part in skills-based volunteering, which made a visible difference and increased their sense of empowerment. They improved their language skills, organised events according to their own ideas and needs, helped migrants and made intercultural and intergenerational friends. Volunteers with migration experience played a key role in communicating and translating with newcomers (especially from Afghanistan and Kurdistan).