Supporting refugee integration through civil society involvement

A new European project seeks to build upon previous initiatives to develop training programmes and cement civil society synergies leading to better integration of refugees.

On the back of an unprecedented refugee crisis, especially following the Taliban resurgence in Afghanistan and the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, refugee integration has been emphasised as a top priority for the European Union. Record numbers have been reached as Europe hosts an increasingly higher number of refugees and asylum seekers.

From Ukraine alone, 6 million citizens have fled the war and crossed European borders. Looking for safety and development opportunities, these refugees pose new and greater challenges to the European landscape.

To tackle such challenges the EU has responded rapidly, reinforcing a solidarity wave via direct humanitarian aid, emergency civil protection assistance, and protection. However, considering the significant number of children and youngsters within these general figures, overarching medium-to-long-term actions are required to ensure a successful integration process beyond temporary aid.

Building on top of existing projects and previously identified needs, the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme, has funded the REFUGIN project – Communitarian approach for a holistic young refugee long-term integration -, which will run for three years.

The REFUGIN transnational initiative – sets the tone for an inclusive and long-term approach to the refugee crisis.

The project strives to ensure the sustained integration of young refugees through a bidirectional process: refugee integration and resettlement require a proactive involvement of civil society and the young refugees themselves.

Following the EU Action Plan for Integration and Inclusion 2021-2027, the REFUGIN project aims to cement civil society synergies towards refugees’ integration. The project will strive to build the capacity of key non-governmental actors, namely education and NGOs professionals, by holistically investing in their know-how in the field. Young refugees’ soft skills, media and digital literacy and resilience, among others, will also be enhanced, contributing to their positive and sustained long-term integration.

Considering the proposed relevant yet ambitious goals, REFUGIN will develop tailored training courses for the referred civil society professionals and young refugees, following a thorough needs assessment. Moreover, the project will develop guidelines for public campaigns, schools’ institutional structures and a mentoring scheme, ensuring that the issues posed by forced migration are handled from a social care lens instead of a highly securitised approach.

At the initiative’s inception, a solid foundation for the project’s successful development was set. The consortium members stressed how integration efforts should be deployed in a sustained and long-term framework, allowing young refugees to become part of their new communities whilst also mitigating societal ill-informed suspicion towards migration.

Ultimately, REFUGIN expects to contribute to more tolerant, inclusive, and inter-culturally aware European societies, strengthening the EU core values.