When dealing with the refugee crisis that Europe is currently facing, the problem ahead for a local community is not only caring for the people escaping war but also concerning about the local people and above all connecting these two groups. The problems we are currently facing are inadequate instructions and lack of knowledge in the field of providing language and vocational education for refugees and also the question of adopting this many people from other cultures to our society. The aim of the present project “Together: best practices exchange for integrating refugees" is to help refugees and people from developing countries successfully integrate to their new residents and be willing and prepared to contribute to the local community.To reach this goal the project focuses on transnational cooperation between partners with different experience and know-how to learn from one another and exchange practices. The other objective is to put together a “best practices” manual for teachers and trainers, social workers and other specialists working with refugees.Target groups for the project are divided in two: language and vocational teachers for adults, and specialists from NGO-s and other organisations who are directly involved in the integration planning process. The project activities are planned for 35 participants together with teachers, trainers, specialists and team.The activities carried out during the project involve:1) presentations from local government speakers, specialists;2) exchange of knowledge and experience between teachers, trainers and specialists working with refugees/other migrants;3) separate workshops conducted by professional facilitators for target groups to gain practice and for developing improved methods to positively influent integration through learning process;4) visiting local organizations for experience exchange;5) testing new methods in-between seminars;6) compiling materials of best practices online manual.The overall expected impact of the project is more effective integration of the refugees/other migrants to local communities. On participant level the impact is higher competence and motivation, theoretical and practical know-how to teach and provide services to refugees/other migrants and positive change of beliefs and attitudes.As a side-product the project team is going to publish a public interactive web-page about the project and for best-practices exchange.
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.