The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services by Aisling van Vliet

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services with personal testimonies November 2013

Eurodiaconia is a

faith

dynamic, Europe wide community of organisations founded in the Christian

and working in the tradition of Diaconia, who are committed to a Europe of

equality

and

justice.

As the

solidarity,

leading network of Diaconia in Europe,

connect organisations, institutions and churches providing

social and health services and

education on a Christian value base in over 20 European countries. We bring members together to

share practices, impact social policy and reflect on

Diaconia in Europe today.

Editor: Heather Roy Design: Jérémie Malengreaux Photo credits: photos are taken by Eurodiaconia members and members of members Printed on recycled paper

Rue Joseph II 166 Tel: +32 (0)2 234 38 60 1000 Bruxelles Fax: +32 (0)2 234 38 65 Belgium E-mail: office@eurodiaconia.org www.eurodiaconia.org

We want to thank the European Commission for the financial support to freely express our opinions and support the most vulnerable in our society

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services

CONTENTS Foreword

Introduction

Alaa Lola, Gothenberg, Sweden

Sunita, Copenhagen, Denmark

Gülistan, Berlin, Germany

Vika, Helsinki, Finland

Innocent Rukundo, Dijon, France

Samira, Oslo, Norway

Marian, Copenhagen, Denmark

Tukale, Budapest, Hungary

Hanesa Ósk Þórsdóttir, Reykjavík, Iceland

Akife Aridura Bagindir, Dronten, the Netherlands

Family K, Novi Sad, Serbia

Mariana, Gothenburg, Sweden

Milomir Illić, Switzerland

The Payazyan family, Yerevan, Armenia

Other projects

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services

Contents

FOREWORD

Jarmo Kökkö, Chairman of Eurodiaconia There are many hurdles and barriers migrants encounter on their journey and we do not claim to be the only source of support, but not-forprofit social service providers often play a vital part enabling migrants to integrate. In this publication you will see how diaconal organisations welcome those who society often prefers to ignore, and support those who risk falling into the margins of society during the labyrinth process of integration. But sometimes, diaconal staff and volunteers simply give hope, and provide the emotional support to encourage people not to give up.

Welcome to Eurodiaconia’s first publication on the inclusion of migrants through the eyes of the service user! We hope this publication will give you an insight into some of the outstanding work our members are doing to support migrants across Europe. Migration may be a sensitive and often politicised topic and there are many approaches and opinions on how to manage migration, however here we are focussing on how migrants can be supported and empowered to integrate into society. This publication aims to portray a positive picture of the integration of migrants with examples from our members’ successful projects. The personal testimonies portray the very real plight many migrants face when coming to Europe and how our members have been able to aid the often difficult integration process.

It’s also wonderful to see several examples in this publication where the beneficiary has become a volunteer in the association that supported them, where they have wanted to give something back and help others. It’s so important to highlight the valuable contributions migrants make and their active participation in civil society which can easily be often overlooked. You will see we have chosen to focus on the human dimension of migration, as we remember the person behind the word “migrant”, because every migrant has a name, and as all human beings, they deserve to be treated with dignity, respect and care, indeed on these three little words shape much of our work in Diaconia.

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services

Foreword

MEP Nadja Hirsch, ALDE “The integration of migrants is imperative” sustainable integration takes place. This means that migrants, both from outside and inside the EU must have access to the labour market, but also access to educational, social and health care services which facilitate the integration process.

Over recent years the European Union has experienced a steady increase of immigration. This has proved to be a great asset for Europe’s labour market as well as culturally. Indeed migration has enriched and changed the dynamics of many European cities, as societies become ever more diverse. However it’s discouraging to see that today migrants across Europe are among some of the most vulnerable groups in society and are often socially excluded through lack of access to employment, education and social services. For too long, the Member States have simply let immigration happen without any clear strategy. This has been frustrating for the host country and above all for immigrants themselves. In light of the challenges posed by Europe’s demographic change, including low birth rates and an ageing population as well as other pressing challenges such as rising unemployment and increasing social exclusion, Europe cannot afford to not integrate migrants into the labour market. However integration is of course a two way process, and both migrants and the host country must ensure that rapid and

Therefore demographic change, skills shortages and integration form a triangle and are only to be considered in their interaction and in their overall context. The challenge of integrating immigrants into the labor market can only be met with the principle of “smart immigration”. This means a point-based immigration system, mandatory integration courses, and increased incentives for foreign students to work after graduation in the EU. We must better exploit the possibilities of circular migration, so as to achieve positive effects both for migrants and for the EU. Core of every policy must be that immigrants find work as quickly as possible, as employment is the key to successful integration. Retroactive integration and managed migration therefore need to take place at the same time. A holistic approach to integration matters must be chosen at local, national and European level. The examples of diaconal projects in this publication highlight a range of essential quality social services across Europe that clearly support migrants in their integration into the community. The poignant personal testimonies by the service users demonstrate the difference diaconal service providers make in the lives of those often forgotten by society.

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services

Foreword

INTRODUCTION We would like to say a special THANK YOU to those who have shared their personal testimonies and photos to make this publication. We are truly grateful for your openness and willingness to share your life story with us. This has added a “human” dimension to this publication which makes it as unique as the people featured in here and hopefully more real to its readers. We hope that these life testimonies will bring to light some of the struggles and barriers migrants face in their journeys and highlight the invaluable role social services played in their individual journeys of integration. This publication has the particular aim of raising awareness of migrants as one of the most vulnerable groups in Europe, and in doing so Eurodiaconia1 calls for their social and human rights to be protected. If we are truly the Europe of ‘solidarity’ which we claim to be, the EU and its Member States must do all they can to ensure that human rights are respected. But we must go beyond only trying to secure human rights. We need to truly integrate migrants for the benefit of all. Indeed the economic arguments for integrating migrants in the labour market are clear, but more importantly, the social and human cost of failing to integrate migrants is one that Europe cannot afford. We need to build socially cohesive societies which include and empower migrants; which means ensuring access to social rights so that they can actively participate in society and fulfil their personal potential. The second goal of this publication is to celebrate and recognise the work diaconial organisations carry out to support and empower migrants and to promote their inclusion and well-being. However Eurodiaconia asks for more than just recognition for its members’ work with migrants; social service providers need financial support to continue the quality

work they do day after day. We want to see a change in the choices and trends we see governments making across Europe; instead of seeing increasing cuts in social spending, we want to see increasing social investment, particularly for marginalised groups. Eurodiaconia members testify to the increasing demand for social services including services for migrants, yet at the same time they face decreasing support from public authorities. Social services are an essential element of a healthy and functioning society; ensuring people can fully participate in that society and therefore need supporting for the well-being of all. Therefore Eurodiaconia calls for a long-term perspective based on social investment taking into account the cost of non-inclusion and the worsening of social cohesion into fiscal and economic policy decisions.

About the publication

In 2013 Eurodiaconia collected these personal testimonies and projects from its members as a way of celebrating and recognising the work diaconal organisations carry out to support and empower migrants and to promote their inclusion and well-being. The publication features a number of personal testimonies from service users encountered by Eurodiaconia members and gives a short description of the project/ programme. We hope that this selection of projects featured in the publication gives a rich picture of some of the ways diaconal organisations work to integrate migrants into society. The focus on individuals and their personal stories is deliberate; we believe that all people, being created in the image of God, have inherent, equal dignity and worth and must be met with love, care and respect regardless of their life situation or background. The projects and services are simply tools and practical means to achieve this.

1. Eurodiaconia is a dynamic, Europe wide community of organisations founded in the Christian faith and working in the tradition of Diaconia, who are committed to a Europe of solidarity, equality and justice. Our members are churches, non-statutory welfare organisations and NGOs in Europe rooted in the Christian faith within the traditions of the Reformation as well as in the Anglican and Orthodox traditions.

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services

Introduction

ALAA LOLA, GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN Church of Sweden www.svenskakyrkan.se/

Alaa Lola had family, friends and a job in Baghdad. In 2008, she had to leave. She spent three years as a refugee in Europe before she finally settled in Sweden. Alaa Lola now volunteers in the Church of Sweden, in the parish of Bergsjön, in Gothenburg. She a 41 year old Baghdad-girl with the longest hair and the biggest smile.

permanently stay in Sweden. She got a three-month internship in the church, working in the second-hand shop, in the kitchen and with office tasks. This summer, 2013, she finished her “Swedish for immigrants” course. Today Alaa volunteers in medical and social care as an interpreter and makes coffee. She also sings in the choir and often comes to the church to meet friends.

“I had a happy childhood in Baghdad with lots of friends. I went to a Christian school and many of my friends were – and are Christians, it didn’t matter”, says Alaa. Alaa Lola comes from a Muslim family. Her mother was from Iraq, her father, who died early, was Palestinian. The project: Parish of Bergsjön Everything was good until 2003, Alaa says, The parish of Bergsjön is located in one of then things changed. The Iraq war began. Her the outer suburban areas of Gothenburg. The brother was killed, and from grief, her mother neighbourhood is multicultural where over 142 passed away only three months later. Alaa now languages are spoken with a high number of became a target for the militia, she was beaten undocumented migrants and asylum seekers. and harassed. “I was called so many bad The parish of Bergsjön provides a things, I couldn´t stay. Life had become medical clinic, psychological and “I used to be the too dangerous.” Alaa left, all by herself. dental-care for undocumented one who needed help, She first arrived in Syria, and then migrants. It also has a café and today I am glad to give. So continued to Turkey, Greece and gives legal advice. The church many people here really, really finally Sweden. In Sweden altoworks together with a wide need help. They can´t go back gether eight applications for asylum network of volunteers from to their country for so many were rejected by the authorities and different organizations and reasons, but sometime they in waiting for her Palestinian Authority different professions. Together don´t tell or let it show, Passport she was advised by her the partners today provide activiit hurts too lawyer to try to stay in the country on an much” ties such as language training and illegal basis. “For so many years I had so job-coaching. The clinic and the church little and was completely dependent on help have become a meeting-place for refugees from other people. When I first heard of the and immigrants from various backgrounds parish in Bergsjön, I asked if I, as a Muslim, and religions. Two days a week a free lunch is could go there. With my experience of the war served. The church receives and how it affected people, I wasn´t sure if the groceries and cooked church would accept me, but my friend just meals from various said; “it´s for everyone, you are welcome.” And stores and cafés to I was. I got a lot of help, for a long time I was redistribute. There provided bread, clothes and food, but most of is also a secondall, I found love.” hand shop in the church. For Alaa the community became her new family. In June 2012 she got her permission to

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services

Alaa Lola, Gothenburg, Sweden

SUNITA, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK Kofoed’s School: www.kofoedsskole.dk

Sunita was born in India. She is 40 years old. She has two children. Most of her years in Denmark, she has been unemployed or had only temporary seasonal jobs. She has followed an employment course at Kofoed’s School in Copenhagen and has learned to look for jobs on the internet, write applications, do a good job interview and has had Danish language lessons. After being trained in the kitchen she was offered a permanent job with a big caterer, her first permanent job since she came to Denmark 18 years ago. In her new workplace she has colleagues from many countries besides Denmark: Pakistan, Iran, Iraq…

The project - Kofoed’s School

Every year more than 4,000 people attend Kofoed’s School in Copenhagen for training and support for a more included social life. Kofoed’s School is a social institution, based on pedagogical principles, for those furthest from the labour market. About 45% of the participants have a foreign background of around 80 nationalities from all over the world. In the past couple of decades, the immigrant and refugee group has grown steadily and continually. Their problems are prominently limited to unemployment and poverty. Kofoed’s School provides vocational training, education, counselling and guidance. The migrants can have a comprehensive, integrated programme including workshop training with Danish language courses and civic courses. This can be combined with physical, social and cultural activities.

The result is improved professional, social and personal skills and a better access to the labour market. Kofoed’s School can support them with free clothes and furniture, as well as other services. The processes are individually organised, adapted to individual needs and aspirations. The basic method is ‘help to self-help’ to strengthen the inner motivation and selfesteem. A schedule could consist of Danish language, computer skills, communication and cooperation, civic and labour market knowledge, practical training in workplaces and job seeking (for example writing CVs and applications, workplace visits, interview training). Training can also be practical in Kofoed’s School’s own workshops, for example there is a graphic workshop, kitchen, metal workshop, joiner’s shop, car repair workshop, which all prepare for a job on the labour market. Because Denmark is a bicycle country it is also important to teach the new citizens to cycle and become familiar with the city. Every time a migrant leaves the project for a job, the public finances improve with 40,000 – 45,000 Euros due to higher income taxes from the employee and saved unemployment benefits.

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services

Sunita, Copenhagen, Denmark

GÜLISTAN, BERLIN, GERMANY Diakonie Deutschland: www.diakonie.de

When 11 year-old Gülistan arrived in Berlin, she felt unwelcomed and out of place. Today, 14 years later, the charming, self-confident young woman is studying to become a social worker in Berlin. Looking back on all that, she feels a sense of pride. “Getting accepted to university was my greatest achievement. I was so happy and, to be perfectly honest, also rather surprised.” Surprised because in the beginning her future looked bleak. After losing her father, Gülistan fled with her mother and siblings from North Kurdistan to Germany through Turkey.

education and prepare for university entrance. The help Gülistan was given at the YIS is what she passes on to others today. She now volunteers with Kurdish young people and is politically active. If you ask Gülistan today if she would ever like to go back home, she shakes her head “I feel at home in Germany. My future is here.”

She had to overcome several obstacles and disappointments. After experiencing discrimination in Turkey, she was also ostracised in Germany. “I didn’t want to live in Germany. I wanted to go back to Kurdistan” she says. The other children at school picked on her, taunting, “Anyone can tell you’re a Kurd from your big, crooked nose.” She explains, “I couldn’t really defend myself because I couldn’t speak German yet.” Had Gülistan not met Sukriye Dogan, she probably would have given up and left school. Sukriye Dogan, director of the Youth Immigration Service, accompanied Gülistan’s mother to parent-teacher conferences, translating for her and helping her to speak up for her daughter.

The project: Youth Immigration Service, Diakoniewerk Simeon (A member of the Diakonie Landesverband - Berlin-Brandenburg-Schlesische Oberlausitz, a member of Diakonie Deutschland)

The Youth Immigration Service seeks to help young immigrants between the ages of 12 and 27 as they integrate socially, linguistically, educationally and professionally. The support and guidance they offer is particularly important for new arrivals who need to learn a new language and orient themselves in an unfamiliar society. Part of the work of the YIS is case management – that is support tailored to an individual’s needs. In the past year, 528 young people were given some form of support, 163 of them receiving Gülistan received intensive intensive case management. What support through the Youth Immiis extraordinary about this kind of “I was able to take gration Service. Sukriye Dogan, support is that the young people part in lots of great projects herself the daughter of a guest choose it freely. They come and workshops organised worker from Turkey, recognised looking for specific help that their by the YIS. I took language the young girl’s potential. She courses and received help with parents cannot offer them. The became Gülistan’s role model and goal of the Youth Immigration my school work and with the encouraged her. “During the counService is to give these young whole ordeal of filling out selling sessions at the Youth Immipeople a long-term perspective. university applications.” gration Service, I got the feeling that “Some don’t want to go any further I was being understood” says Gülistan at school. We try to encourage them to with immense gratitude “When I was in pursue the best qualifications they can, so the thick of all that, I had counselling as often that they can then be eligible for higher educaas three times a week”. She received private tion, so that they don’t have to end up living from lessons, passed her intermediate school exams one temp job to the next,” explains Dogan, the and then went on to complete her secondary Director of YIS.

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services

Gülistan, Berlin, Germany

VIKA, HELSINKI, FINLAND

Helsinki Deaconess Institute: www.hdl.fi “I had a happy childhood in a neighbourhood of a southern Romanian city. My youth was however short and intense: I was already married and an expectant mother when I turned seventeen. Today, I am a single mother of three, a grandmother of six, a worker in a company, a volunteer at Helsinki Deaconess Institute, and a Romanian Roma migrant living in Finland. Four years ago, I was working on my own in Romania, buying second hand clothes and peddling them through villages. My children were growing and I made less and less money. People began to leave villages to try their luck in Italy and Spain, while some travelled to the North “where the economical crisis didn’t hit”. I decided to travel to Finland with three women from my neighbourhood.

my daily motivation, my income, my registration and legal status in Finland. But still I did not have a home. Together with Hirundo workers, we searched and called apartment owners, but landlords remained reserved: I was a foreigner and I worked in cleaning services. Probably they couldn’t even imagine that I was a Roma! Finally, I was able to rent an apartment. For a migrant, it is difficult to get access to work, housing, residency, and registration. Direct support is crucial as you usually get treated better if you are accompanied by a native. Volunteering can provide a boost to migrant’s self-confidence and lead towards employment. Now, I’m looking forward to having my one-month holiday and spending time with my family in Romania. Can you imagine; it is my first annual holiday ever and my first official job ever!”

The beginning was not easy: four middleaged women in a foreign country, without knowing Finnish or English! We slept in the parks, gaining our daily living from begging and collecting empty bottles, and the police The project: Drop-in centre Hirundo, HDI often bothered us. One day, we met two ladies The drop-in centre Hirundo supports EU speaking Romanian. They introduced themmigrants at risk of marginalization in Helsinki. selves as social workers who worked on a The work in Hirundo is rooted in community project for Roma migrants (Drop-in centre work practices, based on principles of social Hirundo at HDI). We followed them to the justice, equality and anti-discrimination. The “What centre to take a shower, do the laundry central mission of the Hirundo is to provide do migrants and have a meal. For homeless acute humanitarian aid, to prevent need? They need women, the warm atmosphere was a marginalization in Finnish society, to a chance, and they precious thing! promote and enable the participation of need services that people in making changes in their lives facilitate this chance!” The Helsinki Deaconess Institute and to prevent discrimination and provided support and a small subsidy. racism against the most vulnerable For the first time someone genuinely appreEU Roma migrants. The services of Hirundo ciated my skills – as a Roma myself, I was focus on counselling and support processes good at participating on a project for Roma that are meant to help the service users to build people. After sending dozens of applications an understanding of the problems they face and and making even more calls with the help of possible solutions. Hirundo workers, I finally got a full time job in cleaning. The key to everything was a job:

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services

Vika, Helsinki, Finland

INNOCENT RUKUNDO, DIJON, FRANCE Fédération de l’Entraide Protestante: www.fep.asso.fr “I would like to share my testimony of the support that I received when I arrived in France in November 2003. I didn’t know much about the procedure to be granted political asylum, but thanks to the support of Association Protestante d’Entraide (APE) and the Cimade, I was able to accomplish it and to successfully seek asylum. The day the associations welcomed me was for me the most important day of my life. When I arrived I didn’t have a place to sleep, I didn’t know how to eat, or how to get in touch with associations. They advised me, and our meetings were truly beneficial.

Thanks to the support of volunteers from the APE and Cimade, it became easier and easier for me to find my footing. And I would say that it was beneficial for my integration, it helped me orient myself in my professional life. I obtained French citizenship and I now work at a pharmacy.”

The project: Association Protestante d’Entraide de Dijon in collaboration with the Cimade (The APE and the Cimade are both members of the Fédération de l’Entraide Protestante)

The association (APE) was created in 1995 in order to foster fraternal links within the local parish of the Reformed Church of Dijon from which it originates. Gradually, thanks to the involvement of its volunteers, the association developed a diaconal service for members of the parish, and, more and more, for people outside of it providing food assistance, a clothing bank, help with writing administrative documents, referral to the competent social services etc. Listening, meeting, and supporting always remaining at the heart of the APE’s mission.

At our first meeting, I was able to get a bed and to obtain the proof of accommodation necessary to go the prefecture and have my request registered. Their support during my appointments at the prefecture and meetings with other associations helped me because I In the last few years, the political, social, didn’t feel alone. There were always and economic context has led the people to tell me about my rights association to increasingly work “I won’t forget the and obligations. When you with asylum seekers and refugees, support I received. It made arrive in France, you’re a bit whose number is constantly me want to support others and lost: you’re not well informed get involved in an association. I pay growing. For this activity, the about all the procedures homage to all the volunteers in assoAPE actively collaborates with and you don’t know the ciations who help the neediest, and I the local group of the Cimade, addresses of the associatake this opportunity to pay homage which is located in an adjato all the volunteers who persontions who can help you. cent building. The association ally helped me with my asylum In August 2004, I was frequently asks for the pastor and application.” granted the status of the members of the parish of the refugee. I tried to become local Reformed Church. socially integrated.

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services

Innocent Rukundo, Dijon, France

SAMIRA, OSLO, NORWAY

Church City Mission Oslo: www.bymisjon.no/ Samira arrived in Norway twenty years ago - a refugee from Iraq. Samira, was unwanted by Sadam Hussein because she was a Musawi – from a Shia family, and because her grandmother was of Iranian descent. She was dragged out of university and sent to jail where she suffered physical abuse for no apparent reason. Samira would not see her parents and 6 siblings for a year and eleven months. Finally when she did see them, it was in prison where the whole family had been thrown into.

activities for women and participates in religious dialogue with the staff. She has even engaged in dialogue with Queen Sonia and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway!

The project: Primary Health Workshop (PMV), Centre for Health, Dialogue and Development

Her flight from Iraq took her through Iran, Syria, The overarching principle at the centre is a grassYugoslavia and Vienna before her arrival in roots approach towards empowerment. PMV Norway with two children aged 3 years and 4 functions as a centre for the marginalised through months respectively. After 10 years in Norway, individual dialogue as well as group discusand a job as a teacher’s assistant, she still had no sions and activities to facilitate empowerment friends and no network. When she was diagnosed and promote integration. It operates as a type of with a chronic health condition and put resource bank where public and private instituon sick leave that would last for 4 tions can get information and advice with years, she was unable to leave “I have actually regards to multicultural issues and chaloutdone myself. The her house. Samira was isolated lenges. Norwegian system is strange and unhappy, but her faith in and difficult to understand, but I God was strong. One day The people who visit on a regular have become strong enough to guide she met a PMV employee at basis are primarily immigrant others through it since I started going the mosque, and “everything women, children and youth who to PMV. All we need to do is go out of changed. I was told I had need a meeting place. It is a belief the door of our home. Many of us need resources that were needed at at PMV that playing an active someone to help us bloom and I got the centre.” part in decision-making helps mine from PMV.”

Samira first started as a volunteer, helping girls with their homework. She saw the need for tangible creative activities, and started sewing and cookery courses for the Arabic speaking women, then children’s activities and finally a Koran discussion group. Today, when not with these groups, Samira is involved in activities and projects at the mosque to promote women’s rights from an Islamic perspective. She started a women’s group at the mosque, and also heads an organisation she founded, the Al-Zahra women’s organisation. Today she is stronger, and works as an Arabic teacher in a Muslim school in Oslo. In addition, she works one day a week at the centre, organising cookery courses, health promotional

people realise their inherent strengths as well as gain insights into steps needed to move out of isolation and into participation. The centre uses strategies like self-help groups, interreligious dialogue, theatre for development, seminars, large gatherings and information campaigns, to carry out projects which focus on building up knowledge on different issues among immigrants e.g. health, school, family, legal rights, and the social system.

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services

Samira, Oslo, Norway

MARIAN, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK Danish Diaconal Council: www.danskdiakoni.dk

“Hi! I am 37 years old and I come from would be the best ever if they could help us find Romania. I came to Denmark in hope of finding jobs!” a job here, but it’s very difficult even if I am qualified as an auto mechanic and I also have The project: Mariatjenesten - Dan experience in construction and farming. It’s Church Social (DanChurchSocial is a member of hard to find a job when you do not speak the Dansk Diakoniråd) language. I do not have a place to live, I can The social service, Mariatjenesten, is hosted hardly afford to pay for my food and I spend my inside Mariakirken Church, in Istedgade, days collecting bottles and my nights running Copenhagen. There is a group of four workers: away from the police. It’s really hard to walk a department leader and three assistants, a kilometres every day in search for bottles and female priest from Dan Church Social, who is at night, when I finally find a bench or a also the leader, and about 50 to 60 volun“I am bush where I can sleep, the police teers, and together they try to offer a very happy for chase me away because I am not warm and peaceful place to people Mariatjenesten. It’s the supposed to sleep there. Where who have no other place to be. only place where I can feel else can I sleep when I have They are visited by people with safe and even have some hours no money? It’s so humiliating all kinds of problems: abused, of sleep during the day. It’s also that I haven’t even told my marginalized, women who live very nice that here I can meet other family at home what it is I am in the streets, a large number of Romanians in the same situation doing so I can survive here migrants who come to Denmark and we talk and I don’t feel so in Denmark. I don’t want to in hope of finding work, especially alone anymore.” hurt them. Romanians, and others. The people working here at Mariatjenesten are very nice and try to help us, but they cannot help us that much. They keep the church open for us around eight hours per day and we have sandwiches for free and coffee, and sometimes they can give us clothes. In summer we can go to a holiday house with them or have football tournaments and that’s really nice. They also know where we can find free medical treatment or translators for free – things like that. But again, it would be better if they could help us a little more. For instance, it would be great if we could learn English here (it’s very hard to learn Danish, but we would be able to learn English faster because we learned a little in school, and with English we could find a job faster). It would be nice if they had more clothes, because many times they do not have something that fits us and it would be fantastic if the church would be open at night, too, so I could finally sleep more than two hours! And it

“They can buy coffee from us for just 2 kr. and we also offer them sandwiches (with bread donated by the hotels around), dry and clean clothes for those in need, a room where they can shave, wash their hands or clean their wounds and we also try to keep them informed of other social services available in Copenhagen that can provide them with legal advice, free medical treatment and so on” say the organisers. “But above all we feel that our most important role is to offer our migrants a place where they can feel safe, welcome, respected and treated with the warmth and dignity that every human being deserves.”

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services

Marian, Copenhagen, Denmark

TUKALE, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

the Reformed Church in Hungary: www.reformatus.hu Tukale was 18-years-old when he left his home in Somalia, but if you ask him why he fled, he’ll give you the simplest of answers – there is a lot of conflict in Somalia and no chance for education – but it’s obvious that now he is focused on his life, education and future in Hungary. In fact, this year has been a very important year for Tukale. He not only graduated from high school but also received his Hungarian citizenship. He waited three long obligatory years before he was able to turn in all the necessary paperwork and begin the sometimes painfully slow citizenship process, and after only six months, in June he received his official citizenship papers.

upon himself to study. He said that being hospitalized actually turned out to be a great opportunity for him, because he was able to study a lot on his own and practice speaking with the other patients. After he was released from the hospital his studies continued, and about a year ago with the encouragement and help of his Hungarian language teacher, he began to write a Somali/ Hungarian dictionary, simply because this educational resource does not exist. They hope that this project will produce an educational resource that will make the learning process easier for Somali refugees arriving in Hungary in the future.

The project: School Integration Programme, Refugee Mission

The Education Programme is one of the three main ministries of the Reformed Church in Hungary’s Refugee Ministry. In Budapest, there When Tukale arrived in Hungary he set a are only a few schools that provide Hungarian goal for himself: finish high school. To do this as foreign language courses, which is neceshowever, he had to learn the language, a trying sary for any foreign student. The Refugee task for someone who before had absolutely Ministry currently partners with seven schools no experience with school. in Budapest that are willing to welcome But, education was refugee students. In addition to the “Even though Tukale important to him and he daily help in class, the Refugee has accomplished his goals, he is knew that being able to Ministry also employs tutors and not done. Finishing high school and communicate was necesHungarian teachers to support earning his citizenship were his first aims sary because everything the students beyond the classwhen coming to Hungary and now he has in Hungary depends on the room. Mainly, the tutors work another goal, to continue his education Hungarian language. outside of school hours, but and go through university. If his determiin certain cases they take the nation up until now is any indication, it Tukale started from the refugee students out of a class is only a matter of time before that beginning with a Hungarian for private, one-on-one lessons. item on his checklist is crossed class at a refugee camp in off as well”. In 2012 the programme had 42 Bicske, but shortly after arriving students involved and who received in Hungary he became very ill with a scholarship according to their efforts tuberculosis. He was in the hospital for and results. six months, and while he recovered, he took it

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services

Tukale, Budapest, Hungary

HANESA ÓSK ÞÓRSDÓTTIR, REYKJAVÍK, ICELAND Church of Iceland: www.kirkjan.is

“My name is Hanesa Ósk Þórsdóttir, I am fourteen years old and I live in Reykjavík. Four years ago I joined the Litróf (Spectrum) program. I have always enjoyed singing and I really like the fact that everyone in the program is accepted for who they are, each individual is respected and we each get to shine in our own way. We do a lot of interesting projects, musicals, regular concerts and other shows involving acting, singing and dancing. For example we did both an ABBA show and a Queen show, and also dances to classical music. We travel a lot, usually for rehearsal camps or concerts, and travelling is always great fun with this group. We recorded a CD which we enjoyed very much and also learned a lot from it. We have participated in various projects held by the Reykjavík City Council, including a “I have gained children’s culture many good friends festival where we in the Litróf program, premiered a new and best of all is that this sound perforwonderful program is mance piece, completely free of charge and various for everyone!” neighbourhood festivals.”

The project: Listasmiðjan Litróf (Spectrum), The Church of Fell and Holar Fella- og Hólakirkja in Reykjavík is a church of warm structural beauty. Of course it is not enough to have a beautiful structure; the church has to be full of activity and service for those who live in the area. This has been taken seriously in Fella- og Hólakirkja where the minis-

ters, deacon, staff members and the congregation committee have worked tirelessly to build up an energised, individually oriented program, taking into account the high proportion of immigrants in the neighbourhood of the church. The performance art program Litróf (Spectrum) was launched in autumn of 2007 as part of the church’s work with immigrants in the neighbourhood. The name denotes the wide spectrum of human culture. The emphasis is on creating an attractive and constructive program for children from different cultural backgrounds; native Icelanders as well as children of immigrants, free of charge. The goal is to create a positive and inclusive environment for children to come together for creative activity, and in doing so fight against prejudice under the tutelage of trained church staff. In a multicultural society it is of vital importance to accept each individual person with respect and with this program the church wishes to further that aim among the younger generation. By engendering friendship and unity among them we can support mutual respect among residents of the area, build up interest in culture, music, creative art and education among the children and strengthen the image of the neighbourhood.

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services

Hanesa Ósk Þórsdóttir, Reykjavík, Iceland

AKIFE ARIDURA BAGINDIR, DRONTEN, THE NETHERLANDS Kerk in Actie: www.kerkinactie.nl

Akife Aridura Bagindir, with all of this and they need to share it with others a Kurdish woman, and in doing so they have more opportunities. “To feel at home and came from Ankara She herself once had gone to a meeting of to learn a lot you need a network. to the Netherlands in a group which talked about rheumatism. The Buddy Project and the coffee 1993. Yvonne, a Dutch In this group she was the only foreign mornings help you to set up your own networks. It is important to feel like an woman, took her to a woman, in the middle of 50 other women, equal, even though you receive help coffee morning in 2003 but she felt good and at home. Today, her in reading and filling in forms. The as a volunteer in the neighbours have a key to her house, and coffee mornings are very important, Buddy Project, and in the when the neighbours are on holiday, she because you learn to understand meantime they became has the key to their house. This way they each other; this broadens friends. Yvonne has helped are helping each other, which is great. your horizons”. her a lot, for example during the time that foreign people had to The Project: The Buddy Project (the project was have a blue card as a staying permit. This started by a fieldworker of the Protestant Churches and is now blue card had to be extended, which was always an independent working group connected to several churches the case and it was good to have some help in the municipality of Dronten) then. Yvonne also helped her to learn the Dutch language. The Buddy Project in Dronten aims to help refuAkife feels at home in the Netherlands; she has a Dutch passport now and enjoys the democratic freedom. When there is a football game between Turkey and the Netherlands, she favours the Netherlands, as she is Dutch; but she does not like the Dutch food, so she prepares Turkish food and her neighbours eat it together with her, and they love it! They also celebrate Dutch holidays, like Sinterklaas, and when the children were small, they also had a Christmas tree in their home, even if they are Muslim. To meet with Dutch people is very normal for Akife, and it is also important for foreign women to meet other people. Together you discover the meaning of your own world and your own background. Sometimes illiterate women come from Morocco and Turkey, and they then learn to read and write, how to get money from the ATM, to swim and drive a car etc. In fact these women have to learn a lot in a short period of time but they need help

gees that come to live in Flevoland to get in touch with Dutch people in their neighbourhood. They offer the possibility to have a coffee with each other, to go shopping, to go for a walk or to cycle. A buddy is not a social worker. A buddy is there to support you and someone with whom you can talk or have a chat. It gives more quality to life and it broadens your world. It also teaches a Dutch person to look differently at his or her habits and values. The buddy helps the refugee learn to recognize Dutch words and habits quicker and it often puts one’s own problems into perspective. A refugee does not move just like that to a different country. Often a lot has been going on before that and a refugee still experiences difficult and strange moments in Dutch society. A buddy can be the one to give just that bit of support to persevere and to go on. The buddy must not become “a burden’’. The idea is to meet each other as friends and, if possible, to give help when it is needed. The project supports people to take an active part in Dutch society.

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services Akife Aridura Bagindir, Dronten, the Netherlands

FAMILY K, NOVI SAD, SERBIA

Ecumenical Humanitarian Organisation (EHO): www.ehons.org Family K, a seven-member Roma family was expelled from Germany, where they had spent 16 years. The children had completed primary school in Germany and the family had many plans for their life there. In 2008 the family was sent to Kosovo (the parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; place of origin). They spent three months in a collective centre there, which they then left due to the poor living conditions, and made their home in Novi Sad in Serbia, where they live today. The first problem that the family encountered when they came to Novi Sad was their lack of personal documents. Without documents it is impossible to get social welfare and medical care, or to access the job market. The Ecumenical Humanitarian Organisation (EHO), in cooperation with other civil society organisations, obtained documents (from Serbia, Croatia and Germany) for some of the family members, and paid the necessary fees, while procurement of documents for the remaining family members is ongoing. The family found temporary accommodation in an unfinished house owned by a friend. The family lives in very poor conditions, with no regular income whatsoever. EHO helped them get one-off financial assistance, to get food parcels, clothing and footwear and allowed the family to use the free laundry service. Besides this urgent humanitarian assistance, EHO also helped empower the family in a number of ways: Serbian language lessons were provided for the daughters who did not know any Serbian when they came to Serbia, as well as lessons to further improve their German language knowledge (a resource that will improve their chances in the job market), and one of the daughters attended a professional course and received the tools she needed to work. Family K still faces numerous challenges. The greatest of these is finding employment and

permanent accommodation. EHO continues to work with this family, as well as numerous other returnee families, in order to help them reintegrate as successfully as possible and to fully pursue their human rights.

The project â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Roma Resource Centre

The Roma Resource Centre of EHO provides various resources and brings together a range of activity, services and functions: the promotion of equal rights for all citizens, overcoming prejudice against marginalized groups, information, providing counselling and consultation, advocacy and lobbying, empowering through education, on-the-job training, employment and self-employment, and assistance with improvements to living conditions etc. In order to solve the existing problems in Roma settlements (legalisation of unhygienic settlements and lack of basic infrastructure), the Roma Resource Centre has developed a unique work model in cooperation with members of the Roma community. This Sustainable Renewal of Roma Settlements model comprises a comprehensive approach to the solution of existing problems and participative working methods, which involve the inclusion of all interested groups and parties in the decision-making process, as well as the production of a strategy for improvement of the socio-economic status of Roma in Serbia. The largest part in the whole process is played by representatives of the Roma national community, who contribute to the sustainability of the whole process by their active involvement.

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services

Family K, Novi Sad, Serbia

MARIANA, GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN

the National Association of City Missions in Sweden www.sverigesstadsmissioner.se “My name is Mariana and I am 33 years old. I am from Romania. My husband is a shoemaker and we had taken a loan at the bank to start a shoemaking business. As the financial crisis hit in 2008 we didn´t receive any new orders, the business dried up and the company went bankrupt. We were indebted to the bank and for the last few years we´ve been unemployed in Romania. I have a 13 year old daughter that I have to support. I worked for a few years in Serbia as a woodcutter. It was hard work but I received 15 Euros a day and was able to regularly send money to my daughter. My husband and I arrived in Stockholm this winter with the intention to look for a job. When we didn’t find any we started begging on the streets. But during autumn more and more beggars arrived in Stockholm and we were almost not able to earn any money at all. Then we heard that there were fewer beggars in Gothenburg so there we went. On a good day we´re able to earn 200 Kronor. People feel sorry for me in the cold, but we get less money as it gets warmer. I try to send home as much as possible. My daughter lives with my sister and almost everything we get is to provide for her. Some of the money is used to pay off the debt to the bank. The rest goes to telephone calls home because I want steady contact with my daughter. In addition to missing my daughter, it’s difficult to sleep out in the cold. When I wake up, I have pain in my body and I never feel safe. Before, we were able to sleep in a small part of the Nordstan shopping centre. Each night 10 – 15 people slept between the doors onto Kanaltorgsgatan and the locked doors to Nordstan. But in April police and security guards arrived and drove us out. Since then I have been sleeping some nights at the City Mission or outdoors. Our plan is to go home in a couple weeks. The passports must be renewed and I miss my daughter so

much that it hurts. But we cannot stay too long in Romania. The money will run out and I need to have an income. I still hope that I can get a real job. Anything is better than this.”

The project: Crossroads, City Mission in Gothenburg

An increasing number of EU migrants are coming to Gothenburg. In addition to the group of beggars seen on the streets of Gothenburg a new growing group of people has occurred, a group who is looking for work and housing. They are often poorly educated and lack the necessary language skills and therefore have a hard time finding jobs. In November 2012 the City Mission in Gothenburg opened an information centre called Crossroads Göteborg. Crossroads Göteborg is an initiative to provide EU migrants with advice and support on how to get access to the Swedish labour market. The purpose of the project was to provide EU migrants, as well as third-country nationals, information and legal advice about their rights, responsibilities and opportunities in Sweden. By early June 2013 Crossroads has had contact with 260 unique migrants from 29 different countries. The project and the Centre have gathered a high level of expertise and competence with their experience of working with EU migrants.

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services

Mariana, Gothenburg, Sweden

MILOMIR ILLIĆ, SWITZERLAND

Verein Evangelisch-reformierte Diakonenschaft von Greifensee: www.diakoniegreifensee.ch In 1965 when Milomir Illić migrated from the former Yugoslavia to Switzerland, he was convinced that his stay would not be long. His plan was to work here for a few seasons then return to his native village to found a family. But things turned out differently. He landed a permanent “It is important, job in a carpenespecially for older ter’s workshop, migrants, to be amongst got married and compatriots and friends,” raised his two says Illić. “That keeps sons here, and is our soul alive as we grow older.” now a grandfather four times over. Milomir Illić is no isolated case. Every third immigrant remains in Switzerland in their later years, because over time the foreign land becomes home and home becomes foreign. But because many thought they would return to their country of origin after some time, at least after retirement, they have never learned German properly. They also know very little about the Swiss social security system, they are unfamiliar with old age and provident insurance schemes, living arrangements for the elderly, retirement homes and other facilities for the aged. Therefore, because of language barriers and fear of the authorities, they do not make use of locally available services and social facilities. One compounding factor is that owing to physically demanding work, many migrants are in a worse state of health than their Swiss counterparts of the same age and have lower average incomes. All these factors can lead to loneliness, isolation as well as mental and physical ailments. In 2006 Milomir Illić and friends established the “Verein serbischer Pensionäre”, a Serbian

Retirees’ Association. “I wanted to keep active after my retirement and do something meaningful,” says Illić, now 70 years old. Together with AltuM, Milomir Illić organizes information events on topics such as the Swiss old-age and survivors’ insurance system and pension funds or on retirement and nursing homes, as well as courses on filling out tax declarations or on health matters. The group also meets for weekly gymnastics sessions and occasionally for excursions in Switzerland and even trips to their home country Serbia.

The project - “Age and Migration” (AltuM), HEKS (HEKS is a member of diakonie.ch / IG-Werke and is supported by the Evangelisch-Reformierte Diakonenschaft)

As a preventive measure, the HEKS Age and Migration project – AltuM – is working to raise awareness amongst migrants over 55 years of age about the challenges of old age by counselling them on matters such as retirement facilities, pensions, insurance or health, and is expanding their possibilities for self-help. Regularly organized group meetings encourage contacts with other migrants and with Swiss citizens. In addition to information events and roundtable discussions on age-related matters, AltuM provides a range of opportunities for socialising and physical exercise, including, for example, swimming lessons and a health literacy course called “Schön und gesund ins Alter” [Ageing with beauty and health] for women over 55. A total of 2,086 people took advantage of AltuM activities during 2012. Contact is made with migrants through volunteers acting as key persons. These are men and women with a migration background, who are knowledgeable both about the cultural background of older migrants and about life in Switzerland.

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services

Milomir Illić, Switzerland

THE PAYAZYAN FAMILY, YEREVAN, ARMENIA

Armenia Round Table Foundation: www.roundtable-act.am/en/ Like thousands of other Syrian Armenians, “The the Payazyan family fled its home in In December 2012, the plastic voucher Syria to escape the nearly two-year Armenia Inter-Church cards provided by your long armed conflict. They arrived in Charitable Round Table organization brought happiness Armenia seven months ago with Foundation (ART) to our homes, especially at New hopes of returning home soon. But provided assistance Year’s Eve. The cards gave the opporas the fighting escalated, the family to the most vulnerable tunity to buy what we needed,” says Mr has had to stay on and try hard Syrian refugees like the Payazyan. He closes his eyes. They are wet. “Do you know how many to adapt to the cramped housing Payazyan family living in people are looking for these cards?” conditions and cold weather. and around Yerevan. With he asks rhetorically. Today they are struggling to find just $USD 40,000 from ACT the resources they need to buy Alliance, ART was able to effifood, clothing and other essential items ciently provide life-saving assisrequired for survival. tance to 200 families. More than 1,100 families have since registered for the innovative The family of five lives in two small rooms. Mrs programme. Payazyan is sick, the daughter has mental health problems, and the younger son has The Project: Support to Syrian Refugees blood cancer. The family gets by on the earnin Armenia ings of their other son, who works as a waiter The Armenia Round Table Foundation (ART) in a restaurant. Mr Payazyan used to be a is strongly engaged in humanitarian response car mechanic in Aleppo and has had a hard to support the refugees from Syria. Besides time adjusting to life without a job here. “My clergy, several volunteers from the church and heart hurts every time I go to get support from the Syrian refugees were involved in the organidifferent organizations. And every day is the zation and other activities such as: same; no one is sure if they can survive. My • provision of humanitarian aid (through brothers sent us to Armenia, as my wife and plastic voucher cards and different packchildren need medical care, besides peace,” Mr ages of 1st use supplies) Payazyan explains. “Now my brothers and their • needs assessment through home visits, families [in Syria] can’t go anywhere and face face to face meetings with beneficiaries and every day with fear for their lives. My mother sociological survey passed away in November in Lebanon, and • moral and spiritual support by clergy and none of us could be present at the funeral. We the working staff through home visits and all need to work to feed the families. But how meetings in church and where?” he asks, referring not only to the • information sharing through media and plight of refugee families like his own, but also other types of communication. to those still inside Syria whose lives have been put on hold by the fighting. While they’re thankful for the safety they’ve found in Armenia, most, like the Payazyan family, would like to return to the lives they knew in Syria. In the meantime, ART together will continue to support their struggle to survive in their ancestral home.

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services

The Payazyan family, Yerevan, Armenia

OTHER PROJECTS

Hungarian Interchurch Aid: www.segelyszervezet.hu

“A new home which feels like home”, Fót, Hungary The project aimed to promote social integration of unaccompanied refugee minors and minors under subsidiary protection who had been receiving aftercare provision. The target group’s integration is hindered by cultural differences which were to be lessened by the project’s specifically designed program including cultural events, activities and preparatory language lessons. Integration skills like acquiring the Hungarian language and understanding the culture are essential on the road to integration but openness and motivation are also important factors. Classroom sessions were supplemented with practical knowledge, experiences and also leisure-time activities, excursions and summer camps were organized. The ‘Hungarian language’ project element basically provided coaching, subject matter preparation and language practice. Through the various activities and programs target group members got acquainted with social inclusion opportunities and developed skills that were important during their stay in Hungary. A further project objective was to share the professional experiences gained during the project with other professionals working in the same field. Methodology of the activities and the target group’s enrolment was published at the end of the project period. Contents of the publication and the methodology were presented to professionals working in refugee-specific fields in the frame of a project-closing professionals’ day. The project was supported by the European Refugee Fund.

“A small-town’s big world”, Fót, Hungary The project’s objective was to promote successful social integration of unaccompanied refugee minors and minors under subsidiary protection, sensitization of the new environment i.e. the host community of the town of Fót and establishing a relationship between the two groups. As a new situation had arisen due to the moving of refugee minors to Fót, the meeting of various cultures and getting acquainted were given high priority within the project. The local and professional press played the main role in this process and interactive awareness raising sessions were also held regularly in the settlement’s schools by the project’s staff members. A further project objective was to involve refugee minors or minors under subsidiary protection in basic art education and sports activities thus promoting talent, care, social integration and creating links to peer groups. Students of local primary schools finally presented their knowledge gained through the project in a presentation competition; the presentations were then displayed at the final festival organized at the project closing. The final festival also aimed to provide an opportunity for the host community and refugee minors and minors under subsidiary protection to meet each other. The project was supported by the European Refugee Fund.

The Inclusion of Migrants and the Role of Diaconal Social Services

Other projects

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+32 0(2) 234 38 60 Tel.: Fax : +32 0(2) 234 38 65 E-mail : ofďŹ ce@eurodiaconia.org