The Italian team from project “Social Entrepreneurship 4 Refugee Integration” decided to write follow up article on the topic of refugees.
As we already know refugee integration is one of the main issues in most societıes.
Immıgrants who have been displaced from their homes due to war and disaster are people who have lost everything. This loss includes not only the loss of property, but perhaps even more important individual abilities and the social status closely related to them. It is essentıal to remind the displaced immigrant of the importance and function of their individual abilities, and to give them the opportunity to survive in new social conditions and acquire new social statuses. Giving immigrants this opportunity creates the basis of integration policies. Integration is the physical and mental adaptation of individuals and groups who are not part of the hostıng communıty to the lıvıng condıtıons of the new place and ıt’s a two-sided process.
A good integration policy includes the host community and the migrant community; it also sets introducıng the immigrant community to the host society as a maın goal along wıth ensurıng that both parties live in peace and harmony.
If immigrant communities are not successfully and healthily integrated into the new social life, the following main negative consequences could arise:
-Insulation
– Marginalization-ghettoization
– Detachment from social reality
– Radicalization
– Social tensions
– Inequalıty
On the other hand, a successful and healthy integration process has great benefits such as:
– Resolving existing social conflict points
– Prevention of potential tension and conflict points
– Creating opportunities for both the migrant community and the host community
Despite all the difficulties, young people can do their best to improve the current situation.
First of all, nowadays they have the possibility to increase their awareness, become more conscious and responsable about the issue and feel that they can be part of the change. Being informed is the first small step to make the difference: reading newspapers, watching TV news and discussing with other people in order to have a more clear vision about this topic.
Besides, a further step could be being a volunteer or taking part in projects and activities related to the problem. Also, donating is one of the way young people could help.
Last, but not least, they are able to amplify refugees voices by sharing information and opinions in order to make the purpose of integrating them into the society more concrete.