Second regional multi-stakeholder cooperation platform for migrant and refugee integration in Karditsa
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 Karditsa, 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!
Courtesy of AN.KA.
On 28 June 2021, Karditsa Development Agency (AN.KA.), in cooperation with ICMC Europe (lead of the SHARE Network), organised the second roundtable of the regional multi-stakeholder cooperation platform for migrant and refugee integration in the Karditsa Prefectural Unit, Greece.
18 stakeholders joined the online event to continue the conversation started by the first roundtable, discuss the upcoming regional factfiles and pilot opportunities in the framework of the SHARE SIRA project and exchange about integration and employment in the region.
Participants found the discussion around the regional factfiles particularly interesting, for it provided them with new information and insights about regional data and trends on migration and inclusion. This allowed for a natural transition towards the best practices implemented in Karditsa, such as the psychosocial support to GBV women offered by Karditsa Women Centre, the language lessons and employment support by IOM in partnership with DRC under the HELIOS Project and the loans made available by Karditsa Cooperative Bank to encourage and empower migrant and refugee entrepreneurs.
As employment was identified by participants as a priority to foster social inclusion in the region, during the roundtable AN.KA. also presented the tools developed to facilitate contact between employers and migrants/refugees and to enhance their possibilities of being recruited. For instance, AN.KA. created a document allowing to collect information about candidates and match skills with needs while organizing employment coaching sessions for refugees. Some positive results have already been detected, with migrants being hired and farmers approaching AN.KA. to assess potential candidates.
The stakeholders involved in the regional platforms will gather on two more occasions over the course of 2021/2022. You can find more information on the activities in Karditsa on the regional webpage.