Lisbon - A City of Community, Empowerment, and Celebration

Bonnaire, P. (2020, February 2). Interior of the Time Out Market, Lisbon, Portugal [Photograph]. Pexels.

Programs for newcomers can be valuable for those who are adjusting to a new city or country. These programs can provide various services, including language training, job search assistance, cultural events, and social inclusion support. They can help newcomers feel more comfortable and confident as they navigate their new surroundings.

Around the world, there are many programs available for newcomers and immigrants, however, one program that stood out to me during my research was the Lisbon Project, created by Gabriela Faria. This project stood out to me because it was able to grow into an organization through a group of volunteers who wanted to make a difference in the lives of newcomers in their community. It is a community that focuses on empowering and celebrating newcomers as they begin a new journey in a new country.

I think that it is important for cities to acknowledge the feelings and emotions that newcomers face. I believe that the city of Calgary could do more to create opportunities to welcome newcomers and celebrate milestones to help build and maintain a positive and inclusive community.

-Marisa W.-