Relocating to a major city like Berlin can be daunting, especially for new immigrants trying to navigate complex processes in a highly bureaucratic country such as obtaining residence per-mits, finding housing, and securing employment – all of this in a foreign language. Centralized, digital information services and online platforms can make these transitions smoother by offering essential resources via mobile devices. However, to truly support migrants, these digital solutions must be accessible, multilingual, and user-friendly.

The Digital Welcome Center: A New Approach to Integration

The Partizipation Digital project is working to create a Digital Welcome Center in Berlin – an innovative platform designed to facilitate access to vital services and information for new immigrants. This EU-funded initiative, developed in collaboration with Berlin’s Commissioner for Integration and the Berlin Welcome Center, aims to simplify access to both digital and analog support services for newly arrived third-country nationals. The platform is meant to offer a comprehensive range of resources, including information on housing, language courses, job opportunities, antidiscrimination resources and more, all presented in an intuitive and easily navigable way.

The Value of Participative Development

A fundamental aspect of the project is its participative approach: users are directly involved in the design and development process. In the context of the Digital Welcome Center, this means that newcomers in Berlin actively participate in shaping the platform. They share their personal experiences, suggest improvements, and provide feedback, ensuring the final product is tailored to their actual needs. This participatory approach not only enhances the usability and sustainability of the platform but also builds trust and fosters a sense of community among users. Moreover, this approach enables the administration to build a stronger relation with its increasingly diverse population.

Insights from the project’s Community Advisory Panel of migrants

To better understand how this participative development process works, a member of the Community Advisory Panel (CAP) will share their insights into the process. The CAP consists of 15-20 recently arrived migrants who regularly test prototypes of the Digital Welcome Center and give feedback on the structure and content of the platform. In the event, the panel member will share their personal experience with the project, and participants will have an opportunity to explore practical participatory methods for developing digital solutions.

Who Should Participate?

This event is open to everyone interested in public digital services, especially those with experience in migration, representatives from migrant organizations, and public administration professionals. There is no maximum number of participants – all perspectives are welcome. The event takes place in English.