4.4.2. Italian context

In the EU Action Plan on integration and inclusion (2021-2027) it is clearly stated that “Integration and inclusion of people with a migrant background is a two-way process. We need a whole of society approach that includes migrant and local communities, employers, civil society and all levels of government”.
It is essential that all stakeholders in the local communities are involved in the integration and inclusion processes, reinforcing their abilities to network and work in partnership.
The European Action Plan has been adopted at National level and foreseen multilevel partnerships (from local to international) and multi-stakeholder networks, supporting the integration and inclusion processes.
In Italy, the Government (Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy) designs policies and strategies in line with the EU policies to facilitate refugees’ integration and inclusion.
The implementation of effective measures for inclusion and integration foresees the active role of NGOs, local and regional Institutions, HEIs, etc.
The “Together refugees welcome map” has underlined the commitment of the Italian HEIs along with other stakeholders such as NGOs, local municipalities, informal groups of people and individuals to foster inclusive and integrative communities, where refugee students are active players.
Among different examples, we may quote:
- the C.A.P of Bari University. C.A.P is the Centre for lifelong learning. It is a service to promote lifelong learning, certification and accreditation of skills acquired in formal and informal contexts. It is open to all EU and non-EU citizens and its mission is the enhancement of the “cultural capital”.Beyond providing access to higher education, bridging courses and language training,, BARI University also offers a wide range of other integration activities such as cultural exchanges and activities, mentoring or buddy systems between local and refugee students and researchers, joint research projects and publications, and classes in the local culture, human rights and advocacy for refugees.
- Another important example of the role of HEIs in the inclusion and integration of refugee students, is the one brought by the University of Salerno. They underline the importance of the so-called University third mission, where the University is not only responsible for qualifying the human capital and for producing new knowledge. Universities should engage with societal needs and market demands by linking the university’s activity with its own socio-economic context.
In the inclusion process, a particularly important role is played by NGOs, student associations and by youth workers. Open youth work can build bridges between stakeholders and facilitate the inclusion and integration of refugee students in the community, supporting them in establishing networks with local players and citizens, as the report “Taking young refugees seriously” has underlined.
Among different local example of community networks established by refugees and local people, we may mention the following experiences:
- Interculturale Universo is an association that was founded in Bologna, Italy as an initiative of foreign and Italian students and workers with the aim of promoting activities that spread, motivate and facilitate mutual understanding between people of different cultures and origin. This organisation represents an example of networking between Italian and foreign students and workers, sharing the same interest, same visions and goals.
- Arte Migrante Palermo, part of a national network that aims to promote social inclusion through art.The key idea is very simple: they organise periodically a social evening open to everyone (migrants and locals, of any age and background). In Palermo, the initiative is very successful, with about 100 participants meeting every other Friday in the parish of Palermo. This community building initiative methodologically does not use labels such as "staff", "volunteer" and "beneficiary", the core value of Arte Migrante is equality among all participants.
- Bolon Mundial, a non-profit association that through sport helps networking and works for empowering communities. Finding a team to play in, whether or not made up of fellow countrymen, helps in particular newly-arrived young immigrants in the creation of relationships able to sustain, help and accompany both from a material and psychological point of view.
And you, do you know which initiatives are promoted in your environment? You may search for them, involving your refugee colleagues in this quest. If something is missing, you may imagine possible strategies to initiate simple and effective activities in your community, within or beyond HEI context.