Together: best practices exchange for integrating refugees Erasmus Project

Project Title

Together: best practices exchange for integrating refugees

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2016

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: International cooperation, international relations, development cooperation; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Integration of refugees

Project Summary

The main aim of the project was to educate teachers and adult trainers, strengthen their competence and knowledge to work with refugees which will lead to a more efficient integration.
The first priority of integration is to acquire the language of the new resident. Therefore during all visits, language learning methods were studied, learnt and practiced. Sugesto (project partner), demonstrated new developments of the methods that are based on suggestopedia. Sugestopedia, as a new method provided by Sugesto (project partner), was practiced as well as Norwegian language learning methods since these partners had more experience in implementing the responsive language methodology. The aim of the project was also to combine language learning and vocational training to develop methods for achieving better results and get the target group (refugees/other migrants) more involved in the process. Therefore, methods of integrated career development and language learning were practiced (e.g. Jobpics, work practice, language learning methods for the illiterate etc.). The project had 4 Learning/Teaching/Training Activities – contact-seminars. The seminars took place as follows: first – November 2016 in Estonia (Haapsalu); second – April 2017 in Portugal; third – September 2017 in Norway; fourth – January 2018 in Estonia (Tallinn). Since Estonia had two partners in the project the opening and final seminar took place in Estonia. Transnational project meetings took place concurrently with the learning and training seminars enabling professional discussions between learners and project team members during joint dinners and lunches. This proved to be a valuable approach since a lot of direct, hands-on feedback was received and discussed. When compared to the feedback form summaries, it became evident, that participants gave relatively short answers to the feedback questions whereas during professional discussions in the evenings etc., much more detailed and thorough feedback was received that was very useful when planning next events. The best practices gained and shared during the project included:
==> Efficient use of volunteers in working with refugees (Portugal, Estonia)
==> Efficient and innovative language learning methods (Estonia,Sugesto, Norway)
==> Language cafes (Estonia)
==> Integrated language learning and work practice methods; Jobspics, work practice for intergrating refugees in the local communities, community celebrations and events (Norway)
==> ways how to address learning and working needs and potential of different target groups of refugees: the illiterate, women refugees.

To sum up all relevant outcomes of the project and most valuable lessons learned, a finalizing conference was organised in Tallinn, Estonia, at the end of the project, January 2018. Several ideas for future co-operation also were discussed during the final event.
Among other impacts, the leading partner, LOVL, initiated a county-wide network of specialists, officials and volunteers that are involved in the integration of refugees. Joint effort, joint learning included also professional discussions and experience change, where the direct impact of the project was more close co-operation network in Läänemaa (Lääne County). Through such co-operation and learning it became evident that an important aspect of intergration is psychological work, working with trauma and adaptation. Municipality workers, who had no experience whatsoever with the refugee work, could get introduced and practice concrete methods, how to teach languages, how to approach employment issues, how to understand different needs of refugees when we talk about integrating different cultural aspects. The general attitude of participants, who had no experience with working with the refugees became investigative and proactive. This can be considered as a very important dimension of the impact by the project, in addition to gaining concrete skills and knowledge.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 68360 Eur

Project Coordinator

Läänemaa Omavalitsuste Liit & Country: EE

Project Partners

• Associacao Comercial e Industrial de Santo Tirso
• MORE OG ROMSDAL FYLKESKOMMUNE
• Sugesto Ltd