The ITHACA project focuses on narratives of and on migrants both in the past and in the present. The main aim is to analyse the migrations from the Middle Ages until today, within a rigorous historical framework. The main goal of the project is the creation of the ITHACA platform – a digital database for researchers, practitioners, policy makers and migrants – that will enhance narratives, documents and archival sources collected during the research phase.

 

Furthermore, ITHACA will develop an interactive space for collecting and disseminating migration narratives with the aim of impacting on the public discourse. In these regard, the project will produce other tools on migration, such as archival-historical training sessions, MOOCs for scholars, practitioners, and potential migrants, an app for self-recording migration testimonies (MigrAPP) and a podcast, at least 15 interactive maps showing the transformation of migration routes and flows, along a period of five centuries. ITHACA will also promote the ITHACA Diary Contest to select the most significative narratives of today’s migration.

Actions & Results

WP1. Management

This work package implements the project’s management and supervises the development of the project’s financing, documentation, and reporting. It allows WP leaders and stakeholders to communicate effectively whilst facilitating communication between working groups. Finally, it ensures the project follows all necessary risk, compliance, and quality assurance processes.

Partners Involved: UNIMORE

Deliverables

D1.6 Data Management Plan

In compliance with the Open Access and upon the participation to the Open Research Data Pilot, ITHACA Data Management Plan is set.

AVAILABLE

D1.8 Update of Data Management Plan

Update of the Data Management Plan

NOT AVAILABLE YET

WP2. Narratives on Migrations: Past

In this work package we create a connection between the past and the present by locating migrant records and personal memories. New historical appraisals are developed, and we analyse data on historical social behavioural case studies. Its more strategic aspects include integrating both pre-existing and newly created databases and the development of digital tools to enhance the research.

Partners Involved: SU

WP3. Narratives on Migrations: Present

This Work Package allows migrants an active role in the process of gathering and unfolding their own personal stories and will enhance the role and the engagement of public institutes. A key task of this Work Package is to analyse the practices used to collect migrant stories in order to prompt discussion about migration and to generate “archives of the present “. This work package fills the project with useful information, and its outcomes will remain confidential.

Partners Involved: AMM

WP4. Migrations Narratives Platform

This Work Package aims to build a project superarchive. The resulting databases, and archives that are generated and developed by the consortium will be combined to create a common point of reference on migration narratives that represents both the past and the present. The key goal is to get policymakers to engage more deeply with the long-term problems associated with migration. This work package will fill the project with useful information, and its outcomes will remain confidential.

Partners Involved: SU, UNIMORE

WP5. Narratives on Migrations for Inclusive Policies

Work Package 5 conducts a historical analysis and examines current events in order to create innovative and efficient migration policies. Much of the analysis and data gathered thus far will be used to define and recommend good practices and policy interventions to policymakers at various levels, beginning with a critical reflection on the impact of migration narratives on policy development.

Partners Involved: UMIL, NKUA, ULEI, UNHCR

Deliverables

D5.1 Policies on prevention of undocumented forms of migration across the Mediterranean Sea: a critical assessment

Policy paper on preventing illegal immigration and promoting inclusive and sustainable national policies

DOWNLOAD

D5.2 Policy paper on housing integration of migrants

Policy paper on housing integration of migrants

DOWNLOAD

D5.3 Policy paper on gender aspects in integration policy

Policy paper on human rights and gender aspects in migrants’ integration policy

DOWNLOAD

D5.4 Policy paper on international organizations and migrant agency

Policy paper on international organizations and migrant agency

DOWNLOAD

WP6. Communication, Dissemination and Impacts

This Work Package seeks to maximize the influence of the project’s research and deliverables’ effects. An effectual Dissemination and Communication strategic plan will provide researchers, policymakers, migrants, partner countries, and all countries participating in the migration flow with good information and education, and practitioners will be provided with tailored training resources.

Partners Involved: UNIMORE

Deliverables

D6.7 MOOC 1

First of three, this MOOC will be designed in conjunction with the planning of training session (b) (focused on understanding how to collect and preserve migrants’ narratives, targeting teachers, cultural mediators, and all actors in the management of migration flows). The record will happen during M18, during the training in Athens.

NOT AVAILABLE YET

D6.8 MOOC 2

Taking advantage of our affiliation with the Master in History of Migrations at ULEI. a second MOOC will be prepared, recorded and produced.

NOT AVAILABLE YET

D6.9 MOOC 3

Taking advantage of our affiliation with the Master in History of Migrations at ULEI. a third MOOC will be prepared, recorded and produced.

NOT AVAILABLE YET

D6.10 MigrAPP

MigrAPP, an Application for self-recording and uploading migration narratives is realised and released.

NOT AVAILABLE YET

D6.11 Policy brief 1

The first policy briefs, corresponding to the first round of the Policy Council System and based on T6.5 and including policy recommendations is realised and released.

DOWNLOAD

D6.12 Policy brief 2

The second policy briefs, corresponding to the first round of the Policy Council System and based on T6.5 and including policy recommendations is realised and released.

NOT AVAILABLE YET

D6.13 Policy brief 3

The third and last policy briefs, corresponding to the first round of the Policy Council System and based on T6.5 and including policy recommendations is realised and released.

NOT AVAILABLE YET

D6.14 ITHACA Podcast

This Podcast tells to ITHACA public the stories of two migrants, who decided to leave their countries as a form of self-awareness and rebellion.

NOT AVAILABLE YET

D6.16 ITHACA website

First version of the ITHACA website online, including project’s logo

NOT AVAILABLE YET

WP7. Ethics Requirements

As the narratives which are at the heart of the project are both personal and sensitive, all data have to be protected.  In this part of ITHACA’s work, the tools to respect the right to privacy, the personal data protection and the respect for human dignity and diversity are provided.  This action includes an “Ethics helpdesk” and periodic assessments of any potential risk or adverse effect related to the project’s research tools, methods and outcomes.

Partners Involved: UNIMORE