Topic 2: The Migrant integration trends

According to IOM: Integration is “the process by which immigrants become accepted into society, both as individuals and as groups. The particular requirements for acceptance by a receiving society vary greatly from country to country; and the responsibility for integration rests not with one particular group, but rather with many actors: immigrants themselves, the host government, institutions and communities”.

Some examples on what can a civil society can do to foster migrant integration are the following:

  • To promote welcome programs for new migrants: Such as programs providing information about receiving country, its culture etc., either programs relevant to mentoring initiatives as well providing language courses for several levels and so on.
  • To enhance the receiving country society’s readiness to integrate migrants or treat with migration flows, mainly through promoting intercultural understanding and acceptance on diversity.
  • To promote access to employment: Develop migrant skills and competences through delivering capacity-building training programs customized to migrant needs and levels of education, promote labour integration for vulnerable groups, for young people and women, as well as to boost self employment and entrepreneurship. By another perspective to train employees to better deal and integrate migrants in their working force etc.

Some examples on what can a civil society can do to foster migrant integration are the following:

  • Education: Integrate in school curricula basic principles for welcoming diversity, tackling social exclusion, promoting anti-discrimination, both addressed to teachers and school staff in general as well as to pupils directly. Additionally, introduce specific training for school staff regarding didactic methodologies and pedagogies addressed to migrants.
  • Facilitating access to public services: Promote access of migrants to public institutions and to welcoming spaces, provide translation services and information materials, as well as “one-stop-shops” for migrants.
  • Promote civic and political engagement: Provide information about access to citizenship, either promote training courses for developing migrants’ citizenship (concerning language, culture etc.), or enable migrants’ participation in developing national policies, especially those treated with migration issues.
Picture13