DIGIMI pursues several interconnected objectives:

Strengthen integration of newly arrived third-country nationals: By actively involving migrants in local engagement activities and digital storytelling, the project supports their early participation in community life – not only as “participants”, but as active contributors to the local narrative.

Foster a sense of belonging and self-efficacy: By telling their own stories, showcasing their skills and sharing their realities, migrants’ resources, strengths and identities become visible. This helps build a stronger sense of belonging to the new environment.

Promote meaningful exchange between locals and migrants: DIGIMI creates meaningful encounters – for example when neighbours, volunteers or professionals listen to stories, respond to them, or integrate them into joint activities. In this way, bridges of trust are built, prejudices are reduced and mutual understanding is deepened.

Demonstrate a transferable EU approach to social integration: The project’s methods, guidelines and digital tools are designed as a scalable European model for integration through storytelling, which can be transferred and adapted to different local and national contexts.

Build capacities of professionals and strengthen structures: Professionals from social work, education, community development and volunteering are trained to integrate digital storytelling into their training programmes, awareness-raising actions and community work, and to anchor these practices within their organisations.

To achieve these goals, DIGIMI implemented a coherent set of activities:

• Mapping & needs analysis
• Conducted a gap analysis and state-of-the-art review in all partner countries to identify existing good practices using digital storytelling for integration.
• Organised focus groups and online surveys with migrants, local community members and professionals to identify needs, barriers and opportunities for digital storytelling.
• Produced national reports and an EU-level synthesis report, which formed the evidence base for the DIGIMI methodology and tools.
• Development of digital tools and online platform
• Designed and developed the DIGIMI app for mobile devices, enabling users to create short personal narratives, interviews or biographical episodes in audio, video or mixed formats.
• Set up an online platform to publish selected stories from migrants and local residents and to serve as a resource and learning hub for organisations using DIGIMI.
• Made all guidelines, training modules and implementation manuals available in several languages so that organisations across Europe can use the tools responsibly and effectively.
• Creation of a training programme for professionals
• Developed a modular training curriculum for professionals (social workers, educators, community workers, volunteer coordinators), covering:
• Basics and impact of digital storytelling in integration and empowerment
• Methodological steps: from selecting stories and conducting interviews to recording and publishing
• Ethics, privacy and data protection in working with personal stories
• Integration of storytelling into workshops, awareness campaigns and local community actions
• Delivered train-the-trainer courses and community trainings to enable local organisations to apply the DIGIMI approach in their own work.
• Community implementation & dissemination
• Piloted the DIGIMI methodology in several countries, involving hundreds of participants (migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, local citizens and professionals).
• Organised info days, multiplier events and a European final conference to share results with policy-makers, NGOs, municipalities and other stakeholders.
• Ensured continuous communication and outreach via the project website, social media, newsletters and press work, reaching a very large audience across Europe and significantly expanding partner networks.