4.3.1. Why engaging refugees and have them known to the local community?

Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling social inclusion challenges, that benefits both society and the individuals by strengthening solidarity, reciprocity and mutual trust among people, creating opportunities for participation, also enshrined in the 2001 Universal Declaration on Volunteering. Therefore, volunteerism may fulfil refugees' imperative social need to participate in the local communities and to feel that they matter to others, fostering their state of belonging and empowerment, as stated in the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Report on Volunteerism and Social Inclusion. Refugees should not be seen as passive recipients of resources or as the cause of society’s problems.
According to the CoE-EU youth partnership definition, social inclusion is a concept that puts emphasis on the right of individuals to participate in the life of their communities. Volunteer action can help refugees to overcome feelings of personal isolation and reduced self-esteem. Volunteers come into contact with others in circumstances that can help to enhance feelings of belonging and of contributing. Volunteerism reduces stress in life and combats feelings of loneliness. People who are excluded often experience a sense of shame and failure and lose hope of affecting their circumstances. Through volunteering, refugees can tackle some of the underlying causes of social exclusion such as lack of employment, education and health.
At the community level, volunteerism can lead to greater cohesion through the building of trust and the reduction of conflict. Refugees will benefit from opportunities to volunteer within a wide range of activities both within and outside of refugee-assisting community organisations.
At the Higher Education level, volunteerism can foster the sense of belonging within the academic community. Including refugees as volunteers within the academia can lead to the development of their language and vocational skills and other competencies, assist in building resilient social networks and increase their self-esteem. Therefore, volunteering within Higher Education institutions can help refugees to get engaged in the civic life of the communities, providing for their social inclusion.