Refugees: Europe’s (Missed) Opportunity

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Youngsters meet in Lithuania to discuss new ways of refugee integration

[image align=”left” lightbox=”true” title=”Logo of the project” icon=”zoom”]https://refugees.lt/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/REMO.jpg[/image] One of the biggest problems of today in the European Union – refugee integration – was being intensively discussed in Kaunas on 21-28 February. 36 people from Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Poland and Lithuania gathered in Lithuania in order to participate in the project “Refugees: Europe’s (Missed) Opportunity” and to find and propose the most effective ways of inclusion of the migrants into European society.

Motivating youngsters (aged 18-30), whom are aspire for refugee integration processes in their home countries, took part in this project. There also were people present that had direct work experience with the refugees. These people were working in refugee camps in Greece and Africa, working in Amnesty International and United Nations agencies.

[blockquote cite=”J. Liaudinskas, organiser”]People like these enriched our project. They were sharing their insights on the matter, since they had hands-on experience in refugee integration.[/blockquote]

Indeed, mass media is usually choosing the negative rhetoric on the migrant issue, however, not everything is only black or white. Of course, there are problems caused by the refugees, but at the same time there are positive things and hidden potential that the refugees bring with them. Therefore, all participants of the project agreed on the fact that the refugee problem is of paramount importance and it would be a crime towards humanity if we were completely blind about it. This was the main idea that was delivered during the project.

During one week of intensive Erasmus+ youth exchange, the strategy for employing refugees was created. One of the participants of the project, Dario from Spain, was particularly happy with entrepreneurial experience that he gained: “Some really great refugee social business ideas were presented to the special jury. Here I am talking about restaurants, ecological farms, refugee hotels or day centers”.

The organizers of the project also evaluated these ideas as very promising and having huge potential in order to include refugees into the labor market.

In order to gain more knowledge and good practice on the social integration of refugees, the participants of the project were discussing about the threats and potential that the refugees bring to Europe, were creating interactive videos about the biggest stereotypes regarding migrants, were evaluating the current EU Relocation strategy and conducted the research on the public support for the refugees. Also, Kaunas Red Cross Refugee Day Center was visited, where participants were watching a movie “Almost Sweden”, which focuses on asylum-seekers in Lithuania. On their behalf, participants of the project created and presented a list of tools and suggestions to the Day Center for more effective refugee integration.

[blockquote cite=”Ignas M., Lithuanian participant”]The project gathered so many people from different countries in one place, where they could feel comfortable, live together and work collectively on the issue of refugee integration. This in a way symbolized a so much anticipated, yet sometimes missing Europe’s unity on this matter.

After all, many of us are a little bit like refugees – we tend to move from our countries to seek better lives elsewhere. This project was one of the most eye-opening experiences in my life. We will not run away from the refugees. And we shouldn’t. Instead, we should try to do our best for them to feel safe and welcome here. You can find bad people everywhere, but you cannot cure evil with evil. Only by showing love and unity regarding the issue of refugee integration, we will turn this problem into opportunity not only in Lithuania, but entire Europe.[/blockquote]
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Project video:


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Shout-outs:


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Check our Facebook Galleries for all the photos of the project:

Some of the works done by the participants:

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Check our Youtube Channels (Here & Here) or Facebook Page for all the videos created during the project »

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You can find project-related material here:

  • The E-booklet with results of ‘Refugees: Europe’s (Missed) Opportunity’ may be found HERE; You can find project info-pack HERE. The schedule is HERE.
  • Participant certificates (YouthPasses) can be found HERE.
  • Wondering how all the awesome videos were created for the project? Check the ABC for Amateur Film-makers HERE; and the guidelines for video creation HERE.
  • Want to join other refugee integration initiatives yourself? Go on an EVS! Find a project that suits you HERE.
  • You can find workshop topics that were given to participants to get to know more about refugee integration HERE. Spanish team’s presentation can be found HERE; Social Initiative Create by the participants is here: Refugee Employment Center.
  • If you want a good way to get reflective feedback from participants during the trainings, use THIS.
  • During the project we checked participants current knowledge on refugee integration. You can check yours HERE. Other Quizzes on Refugees are HERE and HERE. Info session that was given afterwards is HERE. 
  • You can find other tasks that were given to the participants here: Visit to the Refugee Centre; Pitch Challenge; Field Research; Creating Social Initiatives; Creating Social Enterprises; World Cafe Discussions; Interest Grouping; Refugee Myth Breaking; 

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Media About US

It is hard to follow all the project’s coverage on the Internet; however, here are some examples (list is being constantly updated):

The list is being updated still.

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