Fourth regional multi-stakeholder cooperation platform for migrant and refugee integration in Corrèze
The regional platform is set up in the framework of the Share SIRA project, our European project co-funded by the European Union’s Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, which aims at strengthening and expanding the social orientation and overall integration of newcomers in rural territories in Europe. Besides Corrèze, regional multi-stakeholder cooperation platforms have also been set up in 9 other rural regions in Europe. Click here to find out more about these regions!
On 30 May 2022, Entraide Pierre Valdo, with the support of the Share Network, organized the fourth roundtable of the regional multi-stakeholder cooperation platform for migrant and refugee integration in the department of Corrèze, a department located in the French region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
10 stakeholders joined the event, including local authorities, NGOs and volunteers.
Participants started with a small roundtable and an individual reflection on “What does the SHARE SIRA projects means for you?”. The event continued with a presentation of the updates on the project and its pilot actions in Isère, Vaucluse and Saône-et-Loire. Institut Don Bosco provided an update on its pilot action “Un parrain pour demain” in Corrèze, what has already been put in place and the challenges they are facing.
The field team in Corrèze also updated the participants on what is happening in the department. A specific focus was made on the current emergency related to arrivals from Ukraine. Participants discussed emergency shelters, as well as challenges in accessing housing and employment. Participants showed great interest in learning more about the other SIRA pilot projects in France.
The event continued with workshops and exchange of practices around the question: “what would be an ideal coordination scheme for integration?”.
The main points that were highlighted were:
Better identification of the 5w (who, where, what, why, for who) - “better understand the puzzle of integration field”
Raising awareness of other actors not necessarily working on integration issues:
Raise awareness of citizens on their role to play in integration (hosting communities),
Enable exchange of practice and interactions between integration actors and actors of social activities in general
Give a voice to the newcomers (success stories, testimonies)
Based on existing coordination groups (organized by the state as donor), impulsing working groups on specific topics/fields with the participation of newcomers.
The main points that came out of the discussion were about the challenges faced by the pilot project action in Corrèze. The Institut Don Bosco team realized that focus should be given on investing in human resources to mobilize the sponsors and on facilitating group activities to engage the sponsors. Furthermore, it was highlighted that the impact of the project on the youth is very positive. Young people enjoy sharing moments with their sponsors and try new things and activities, while the sponsors engaged are willing to keep the relationship, even when the minors turn 18 years old.
According to the representative of the municipality (DDETSPP), the results achieved by the pilot project are positive compared to other initiatives in the past; those ones failed to recruit a high number of sponsors and volunteers and maintain their involvement.
The workshop was also interesting for participants, as it raised a key question around which entity can take a lead in implementing working groups. The representative of the local authority mentioned that they can only facilitate a coordination meeting with organizations that they fund.
While closing the meeting, participants were reminded of the next steps, in particular the look and learn visit that will happen in Isère from 27 to 29 September 2022.
The 4th regional roundtable was the last in the series of regional roundtables of the Share SIRA. Various stakeholders from Corrèze have met over the past months to discuss the integration of newly arrived refugees and migrants. Fruitful discussions and interesting debates on integration needs, access to services and challenges faced by newcomers during the integration process took place, while participants had the opportunity to better coordinate, share their experiences and exchange good practices. Some of them will have the occasion to meet again at the National Roundtable that will take place this autumn 2022. Through the multi-stakeholder platforms, the Share Network has also been able to provide trainings tailored to the needs of local actors and to collect data on the region and integration frameworks in the form of Factfiles.
Through transnational activities and events, the project has also encouraged the exchange of practices and promoted inspiring grassroot practices at European level, thus making the link between practice and policy.
Share Network would like to thank all stakeholders who participated in the roundtables for their commitment and important contribution.
More information about the activities in Corrèze can be found on the regional webpage.