MIGRATIO PROJECT — Can an idea improve a place? Discover the Social Franchise
MIGRATIO PROJECT — Can an idea improve a place? Discover the Social Franchise
MIGRATIO PROJECT — Can an idea improve a place? Discover the Social Franchise
Last September 19, the MIGRATIO project held an important event in Madrid with an open session at Espacio Afro, focused on sharing experiences from initiatives led by migrant people and presenting the social franchise model we are developing together with KOOP SF34 and Economists Without Borders
The session began with a panel of experiences in which different community groups from the city explained how their cultural, social, and economic projects are transforming their environment through self-organization, mutual support, and the defense of the right to the city. Based on these stories, everyday challenges were brought to the table: access to resources, stability of spaces, time for care, and institutional recognition.
Next, the MIGRATIO social franchise model and the case of AfroFit Boxing were presented. This initiative was born in the Basque Country and combines physical activity, Afro culture, and community, and is now beginning its expansion in Madrid. The conversation allowed us to explore what it means to “host” a social franchise: what the shared model provides, what decisions are made locally, and how responsibilities, risks, and community benefits are distributed.
The second part of the event was organized in a world-café format, with several groups working around a central question: Can an idea improve a place? The tables sketched possible pathways for migrant associations and community groups to activate their own projects based on the social franchise model, identifying necessary support, alliances, and minimum conditions to ensure long-term sustainability. The room filled with maps, diagrams, and concrete proposals that will serve as a basis for the next steps of the project.
This event has strengthened collaboration between MIK, KOOP SF34, Economists Without Borders, and Espacio Afro, and has provided very valuable learning on how to combine innovation methodologies, community knowledge, and the Social Economy so that migrant people can launch projects that improve their neighborhoods and their living conditions.