Supporting Integration of Migrant Learners , Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Integration is the process of progressively embedding migrants into a society, aiming at minimizing “social exclusion”. To support the process, partners from five European Union countries (Poland, Germany, Slovenia, Hungary and Cyprus) has joined their experience to develop tools which will help raise and strengthen awareness of persons working closely with migrants in the field of social cohesion, intercultural dialogue, empowerment and equality, which are starting point for proper and successful integration migrants with society. The consortium aimed to combat discrimination and segregation of migrants, reducing disparities in the society, promote positive approach towards migrants, especially refugees, asylum seekers as well as to create more inclusive education for all groups in the society.A consortium created by a carefully chosen group of various organisations – University (responsible for preparing professionals), NGOs working directly with migrants (incl. beneficiaries of international protection), research and development centre - representing countries from different parts of EU, with different experience in the migration and integration field, ensured that the potential off all partners was fully exploited, each partner benefited from the participation in the project and the theoretical approach was enriched by practical solutions.The following resources have been prepared:1)New dimensions of migration processes and existing models of integration in Europe - detailed report based on data collected in Poland, Germany, Slovenia, Hungary and Cyprus,2)Handbook “Awareness raising and empathy training measures for promoting work with migrants”,3)Training materials (appendix to the handbook addressed to trainers),4)Best practices collection (Partners have selected several best practices, which support the integration of migrants in various areas).The project begun with collecting information from migrants and experts who work with the target group regularly and collected information on their experiences. This included professionals working for the municipalities and federal offices as well as volunteers and educators at the local, regional and national levels, responsible for language learning and those providing assistance in finding appropriate housing or solutions to other social care needs. Following the results of Analysis partnership started to work on the IO2 Handbook “Awareness raising and empathy training measures for promoting work with migrants”. The results of initial works framed by the guidelines prepared by ULO in the mid July 2017 as well as results of the FLAM project were later discussed during the consortium meeting in Budapest in November 2017. As a consequence the new scheme of IO2 learning materials were proposed so that they would better fit the final beneficiaries needs and the changing context of migration in Europe. In detail, the IO2 Handbook and the IO2 Training materials were prepared as two single documents so that the beneficiaries can use them separately, e.g. to improve knowledge and self-awareness of educators in migrant-related issues (IO2 Handbook) or to provide more practical examples of intercultural problems during courses with practitioners (IO2 Training materials). The draft version of the IO2 Handbook and IO2 Training materials were piloted by each project partner during spring 2018 and the final versions of these documents in partner languages were presented during the final multiplier events in Autumn 2018. The collection of best practices begun prior to the start of this output during IO1 activities, but those best practices were then be re-evaluated based on the selection criteria done during this activity. The partners took into consideration best practices from the above-mentioned funding actions, European website for integration and also the partners’ own networks and institutions. The adaptation of measures was the next phase, with special emphasis for education empowerment, civic participation and engagement as well as economic engagement. Some of these measures were the outcome of the interviews and research analysis of IO1. Impact reflected mostly during face-to-face sessions, so while focus groups and interviews organised within IO1, piloting sessions with target groups and multiplier events. Participants got new knowledge, know-how and skills on multicultural approach in teaching which can be applied in the education measures. The activities had a great impact on raising awareness on the existing situation and of the needs and expectations of migrants in the context of learning; also better understanding of empowerment measures not only in the context of language acquisition but also in the context of social, cultural and labour market integration. At a wider level the project has given partners an increase in knowledge of the different country contexts regarding migration and EU integration policies and good practices.