Thanks to the invaluable support of theWaldensian Eight Per Thousand, the “Coaching for Autonomy” project, while rooted in the previous “We are not alone” project, is a development of it dictated by a reading of the current context and the contemporary needs of refugees.
The Women’s project was mainly aimed at countering social isolation and insecurity, both physical and psychological within the host society (in which they had to quickly become capable of rethinking their role in terms of the relationship between public and private, between familiar and social) with features almost exclusively characterized by attention to the cultural and psychological aspects of the women participants.
The “Coaching for Autonomy” project, on the other hand, has the animus of proposing greater efforts aimed at coaching and career guidance, activation of personal skills and encouragement of the person’s protagonism in the socio-economic fabric of reference. Recipients were offered a 2/3-month intensive Italian language course, an active citizenship pathway (orientation towards various legal-regulatory and daily life aspects) and customized pathways (among them entrepreneurial orientation and training).
Ensuring language, citizenship and vocational training pathways means providing refugees with effective tools for a real chance of social inclusion and personal success within the relevant social, legal, economic and labor context. At the same time, allowing them to refine their personal training according to their aptitudes enables them to embark on paths of inclusion that are more dedicated to success.
Information and legal point
Mosaico offers an information desk aimed primarily at asylum seekers, international protection holders and other types of protection. This activity, which at the moment is based on Mosaico’s social mediation team and aims to create a space for listening and guidance, careful to guarantee each person their own time and keeping in mind the specificity of each individual path. Thanks to the fund allocated regarding the second project, it was possible to implement three main activities.
- Rationalization of information point and enlargement of collaboration network.
- Opening of the information point in May, June, July.
- Improvement of operational tools
World Refugee Day
Thanks to the project funding, it was possible to partially cover the expenses for the organization of the ECRE Annual General Assembly, which was held in Italy for the first time. ECRE, European Council for Refugees and Exiles, is an alliance founded in 1974 and consists of a network of 110 NGOs, from 40 European countries, whose secretariat is located in Brussels.
The alliance works to protect and promote the rights of refugees, asylum seekers, and all displaced persons and migrants forced into Europe and its borders by the policies of externalizing the European border. Its members include both large international NGOs and small associations composed of committed activists. The Italian members are ASGI (Association for Legal Studies on Immigration), Asilo in Europa, CIR – Italian Council for Refugees and the MOSAICO Association – Actions for Refugees.
During the conference, Europe and displacement were discussed, and specifically, among the various topics that were addressed from a European perspective were what works and what lessons can be learned from the responses of the European Union and individual states to the Ukraine crisis, how asylum system crises in individual states can be avoided, how Europe can prepare itself through best practices such as that of legal and safe routes of entry into Europe, with the implementation of the Temporary Protection Directive, and with European asylum reforms.
It also dealt with the issue of social inclusion through access to rights, the sensitive issue of criminalization of civil society, and tried to identify the most effective legal, political and practical responses to counter the increasing trend of criminalization of civil society involved in refugee support.
Socialization activities
On December 23, 2023, a party was organized dedicated to the participants of the refugee women’s group of Mosaico Association. A creative expression workshop for children was held at the event. This activity was an important opportunity for contact among the participants and allowed active involvement of all people present.