Welcoming spaces

This entry unpack the notion of welcoming spaces. Going beyond the first-aid type of hospitality gesture upon arrival of newcomers, it considers processes of longer-term community-building. It makes a link with the livelihood approach and sustainable development, and underlines the important of freedom and wellbeing in conceptualising welcoming spaces. Problematising the perception of migrant newcomers only as needy, examples are given to illustrate their active role in co-creating new futures with longer-term residents, especially in left behind places. While paying attention to the role of local actors and processes, the need to consider these places and communities in relation to others in the broader system, across space and scales, is underlined. The entry concludes that committed and innovative leadership, active and resourceful communities of practices, structural investments, political will to embrace mobilities and efforts to counter discrimination of all kinds are essential to the success of welcoming spaces.