B.P.E: Becoming a part of Europe project. How youth work can support young migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. European level research

Abstract

"This report, a component of the BpE project, documents the key findings of a European-wide research that explores existing youth work practices and provision with young migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. The findings respond to the key research question: how can Youth Work support the social inclusion of young migrants, refugees and asylum seekers (YMRA)? The research adopted a qualitative approach to explore the experiences, challenges and perspectives of Youth Workers and YMRA in relation to Youth Work provision and practice in nine European countries. Through the adoption of a multi-case studies method, data collection tools included 9 life stories of YMRA, 24 open-ended exploratory interviews, 107 descriptions of good practices among different participating countries, field notes and other reports from national expert meetings, a documental analysis of initiatives, projects and relevant literature at a national and European level via an online questionnaire. The findings of the research provide some interesting insights into how youth workers throughout Europe are already responding to the arrival of young migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. This in itself is testimony of the strengths of youth work practice: flexibility, innovation and an open approach emerge as key elements that go to the core of Youth Work practice. The data collected, highlights how despite its diversity (be it in relation to context, approach and the youth population), there are common characteristics that are more than apparent across the projects identified in this research. In this regard, the findings indicate some key principles that define the projects and Youth Work practice. These include: an emphasis on fostering social inclusion; the provision of ‘safe spaces’; and a commitment to a democratic, participatory, ‘bottom up’ approach. Not all of the projects under review were exclusively engaging YMRA, rather, Youth Workers adopt an inclusive approach that seeks to engage young people from different backgrounds, including those facing disadvantage and social exclusion." -- From Executive Summary