„Win-Win Refugee Integration via Internet Based Revitalization of Rural Europe” Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk Concept Developer & Initiator jcn@refival.org

The Refival win-win proposition? Refival generates a European economic development win: More cost effective housing/lower living cost for refugees, thus creating financial space to invest in rural revitalization and in the creation of a rural competitive edge; investment instead of consumption. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

The Refival win-win proposition? Refival generates a European economic development win: More cost effective housing/lower living cost for refugees, thus creating financial space to invest in rural revitalization and in the creation of a rural competitive edge; investment instead of consumption. Development of, Internet based, rural employment instead of long-term paying unemployment benefits. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

The Refival win-win proposition? Refival generates a European economic development win: More cost effective housing/lower living cost for refugees, thus creating financial space to invest in rural revitalization and in the creation of a rural competitive edge; investment instead of consumption. Development of, Internet based, rural employment instead of long-term paying unemployment benefits. Compensation for the previous fertility- and brain-drain from rural to urban areas. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

The Refival win-win proposition? Refival generates a European economic development win: More cost effective housing/lower living cost for refugees, thus creating financial space to invest in rural revitalization and in the creation of a rural competitive edge; investment instead of consumption. Development of, Internet based, rural employment instead of long-term paying unemployment benefits. Compensation for the previous fertility- and brain-drain from rural to urban areas. Avoidance of competition between EU migrants and refugees; protection of European freedom of movement values. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

The Refival win-win proposition? Refival generates a European economic development win: More cost effective housing/lower living cost for refugees, thus creating financial space to invest in rural revitalization and in the creation of a rural competitive edge; investment instead of consumption. Development of, Internet based, rural employment instead of long-term paying unemployment benefits. Compensation for the previous fertility- and brain-drain from rural to urban areas. Avoidance of competition between EU migrants and refugees; protection of European freedom of movement values. Refival generates a Refugee win: Chance to acquire and renovate private real-estate and profit from eventual capital gain. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

The Refival win-win proposition? Refival generates a European economic development win: More cost effective housing/lower living cost for refugees, thus creating financial space to invest in rural revitalization and in the creation of a rural competitive edge; investment instead of consumption. Development of, Internet based, rural employment instead of long-term paying unemployment benefits. Compensation for the previous fertility- and brain-drain from rural to urban areas. Avoidance of competition between EU migrants and refugees; protection of European freedom of movement values. Refival generates a Refugee win: Chance to acquire and renovate private real-estate and profit from eventual capital gain. Education and employment instead of unemployment. Organic, village community based, integration. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

The Refival win-win proposition? Refival generates a European economic development win: More cost effective housing/lower living cost for refugees, thus creating financial space to invest in rural revitalization and in the creation of a rural competitive edge; investment instead of consumption. Development of, Internet based, rural employment instead of long-term paying unemployment benefits. Compensation for the previous fertility- and brain-drain from rural to urban areas. Avoidance of competition between EU migrants and refugees; protection of European freedom of movement values. Refival generates a Refugee win: Chance to acquire and renovate private real-estate and profit from eventual capital gain. Education and employment instead of unemployment. Organic, village community based, integration. For some, upon eventual return home, the possibility to migrate one’s job as a startup occupation. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refugees moving to Europe There is a large scale refugee crisis in which millions are drifting, people follow each other, their target destinations are often hope based countries of “the refugees’ imagination of safety and prosperity”. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refugees moving to Europe There is a large scale refugee crisis in which millions are drifting, people follow each other, their target destinations are often hope based countries of “the refugees’ imagination of safety and prosperity”. In 2015 alone more than 1 million refugees will move to Europe, mostly to Germany; the refugee stream is unlikely to stop or decrease very soon. As such the numbers are high, although their relative proportion to the EU-28 or German population is only 0.4% or 1.2%, respectively. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refugees moving to Europe There is a large scale refugee crisis in which millions are drifting, people follow each other, their target destinations are often hope based countries of “the refugees’ imagination of safety and prosperity”. In 2015 alone more than 1 million refugees will move to Europe, mostly to Germany; the refugee stream is unlikely to stop or decrease very soon. As such the numbers are high, although their relative proportion to the EU-28 or German population is only 0.4% or 1.2%, respectively. Realizing direct shelter has been difficult, still it has so far been managed. But how to offer a longer term future to the refugees remains unsolved. There is no strategy yet since all efforts focus on “first aid.” © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refugees moving to Europe There is a large scale refugee crisis in which millions are drifting, people follow each other, their target destinations are often hope based countries of “the refugees’ imagination of safety and prosperity”. In 2015 alone more than 1 million refugees will move to Europe, mostly to Germany; the refugee stream is unlikely to stop or decrease very soon. As such the numbers are high, although their relative proportion to the EU-28 or German population is only 0.4% or 1.2%, respectively. Realizing direct shelter has been difficult, still it has so far been managed. But how to offer a longer term future to the refugees remains unsolved. There is no strategy yet since all efforts focus on “first aid.” Nonetheless, if there are insufficient subsequent employment chances in the EU, it may financially be much more efficient to support refugees in their originating regions instead of housing them, welfare based, at very expensive locations in Europe. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refugees moving to Europe There is a large scale refugee crisis in which millions are drifting, people follow each other, their target destinations are often hope based countries of “the refugees’ imagination of safety and prosperity”. In 2015 alone more than 1 million refugees will move to Europe, mostly to Germany; the refugee stream is unlikely to stop or decrease very soon. As such the numbers are high, although their relative proportion to the EU-28 or German population is only 0.4% or 1.2%, respectively. Realizing direct shelter has been difficult, still it has so far been managed. But how to offer a longer term future to the refugees remains unsolved. There is no strategy yet since all efforts focus on “first aid.” Nonetheless, if there are insufficient subsequent employment chances in the EU, it may financially be much more efficient to support refugees in their originating regions instead of housing them, welfare based, at very expensive locations in Europe. Since sending back the 1 million people who already arrived is no option, Refival attempts to provide an optimal win-win solution for those refugees who are recognized and are going to stay in Europe. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refugee future? The refugees’ future in Europe depends on a number of economic factors being GDP growth, labor market development and demographics. Their sum determines the refugee absorption capacity. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refugee future? The refugees’ future in Europe depends on a number of economic factors being GDP growth, labor market development and demographics. Their sum determines the refugee absorption capacity. Five countries, Germany (21%), United Kingdom (16%), France (15%), Italy (12%) and Spain (8%), represent 72% of European GDP (2014) and their current recovery from an economic crisis, at 1.3% annual GDP growth, does not permit high refugee absorption. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refugee future? The refugees’ future in Europe depends on a number of economic factors being GDP growth, labor market development and demographics. Their sum determines the refugee absorption capacity. Five countries, Germany (21%), United Kingdom (16%), France (15%), Italy (12%) and Spain (8%), represent 72% of European GDP (2014) and their current recovery from an economic crisis, at 1.3% annual GDP growth, does not permit high refugee absorption. Unemployment is only low in Germany (4.5%) and in the United Kingdom (5.5%); in the other main countries unemployment is high (France 10.8%, Italy 11.9% and Spain 22.2%), meaning that possible direct labor force absorption potential solely exists in Germany and in the United Kingdom. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refugee future? The refugees’ future in Europe depends on a number of economic factors being GDP growth, labor market development and demographics. Their sum determines the refugee absorption capacity. Five countries, Germany (21%), United Kingdom (16%), France (15%), Italy (12%) and Spain (8%), represent 72% of European GDP (2014) and their current recovery from an economic crisis, at 1.3% annual GDP growth, does not permit high refugee absorption. Unemployment is only low in Germany (4.5%) and in the United Kingdom (5.5%); in the other main countries unemployment is high (France 10.8%, Italy 11.9% and Spain 22.2%), meaning that possible direct labor force absorption potential solely exists in Germany and in the United Kingdom. The future absorption potential of the labor market greatly depends on fertility rates. Based on children born per woman over lifetime only two of the five main EU countries have a high fertility rate (France 1.99 and United Kingdom 1.83); the others face low fertility (Germany 1.39, Italy 1.39 and Spain 1.27). © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refugee future? The refugees’ future in Europe depends on a number of economic factors being GDP growth, labor market development and demographics. Their sum determines the refugee absorption capacity. Five countries, Germany (21%), United Kingdom (16%), France (15%), Italy (12%) and Spain (8%), represent 72% of European GDP (2014) and their current recovery from an economic crisis, at 1.3% annual GDP growth, does not permit high refugee absorption. Unemployment is only low in Germany (4.5%) and in the United Kingdom (5.5%); in the other main countries unemployment is high (France 10.8%, Italy 11.9% and Spain 22.2%), meaning that possible direct labor force absorption potential solely exists in Germany and in the United Kingdom. The future absorption potential of the labor market greatly depends on fertility rates. Based on children born per woman over lifetime only two of the five main EU countries have a high fertility rate (France 1.99 and United Kingdom 1.83); the others face low fertility (Germany 1.39, Italy 1.39 and Spain 1.27). The above means that, facing both low unemployment and a low fertility rate, Germany is an exception within the five; all other countries face either sufficient labor force replacement or unemployment. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Germany, labor market, migrants Germany experiences economic growth, low unemployment and a low fertility rate, nevertheless from an economic point of view is it far from sure that there is sufficient refugee absorption capacity. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Germany, labor market, migrants Germany experiences economic growth, low unemployment and a low fertility rate, nevertheless from an economic point of view is it far from sure that there is sufficient refugee absorption capacity. Whilst the German economy currently shows substantial growth, this can rapidly change. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Germany, labor market, migrants Germany experiences economic growth, low unemployment and a low fertility rate, nevertheless from an economic point of view is it far from sure that there is sufficient refugee absorption capacity. Whilst the German economy currently shows substantial growth, this can rapidly change. The demographic fertility problem is only to a limited extent a short-term issue. First in the years of German baby-boom retirement, around 2030, there will be a sudden ageing related reduction of the labor force. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Germany, labor market, migrants Germany experiences economic growth, low unemployment and a low fertility rate, nevertheless from an economic point of view is it far from sure that there is sufficient refugee absorption capacity. Whilst the German economy currently shows substantial growth, this can rapidly change. The demographic fertility problem is only to a limited extent a short-term issue. First in the years of German baby-boom retirement, around 2030, there will be a sudden ageing related reduction of the labor force. The German total net migrant and refugee labor force absorption in the past two years has averaged around 500.000 people, which was mainly filled by 350.000 EU migrants, mostly from Eastern Europe. The above absorption was also assumed to return to a previous 200.000 people yearly level by 2020. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Germany, labor market, migrants Germany experiences economic growth, low unemployment and a low fertility rate, nevertheless from an economic point of view is it far from sure that there is sufficient refugee absorption capacity. Whilst the German economy currently shows substantial growth, this can rapidly change. The demographic fertility problem is only to a limited extent a short-term issue. First in the years of German baby-boom retirement, around 2030, there will be a sudden ageing related reduction of the labor force. The German total net migrant and refugee labor force absorption in the past two years has averaged around 500.000 people, which was mainly filled by 350.000 EU migrants, mostly from Eastern Europe. The above absorption was also assumed to return to a previous 200.000 people yearly level by 2020. With the current refugee recognition rate of 50%, out of 1 million arriving refugees around 500.000 people will try to enter the German labor market. This means that there is a serious conflict of interest between EU migrants and refugees. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

European migrants versus refugees, conflict of interest The influx of EU migrants in Germany is not expected to decline soon because wages are often three times higher than in their originating EU countries. Thus there either is a restricted yearly German labor market absorption capacity for 150.000 refugees or EU migrants must on average “stay/go back” home. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

European migrants versus refugees, conflict of interest The influx of EU migrants in Germany is not expected to decline soon because wages are often three times higher than in their originating EU countries. Thus there either is a restricted yearly German labor market absorption capacity for 150.000 refugees or EU migrants must on average “stay/go back” home. Limiting European migration would undermine the EU principle of freedom of movement and would have great impact on European integration strategies; therefore it is very likely that it will be politically defended. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

European migrants versus refugees, conflict of interest The influx of EU migrants in Germany is not expected to decline soon because wages are often three times higher than in their originating EU countries. Thus there either is a restricted yearly German labor market absorption capacity for 150.000 refugees or EU migrants must on average “stay/go back” home. Limiting European migration would undermine the EU principle of freedom of movement and would have great impact on European integration strategies; therefore it is very likely that it will be politically defended. Still for the German government it is financially more attractive to employ refugees because, unlike most migrants, these are entitled to local social benefits and cannot be sent home. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

European migrants versus refugees, conflict of interest The influx of EU migrants in Germany is not expected to decline soon because wages are often three times higher than in their originating EU countries. Thus there either is a restricted yearly German labor market absorption capacity for 150.000 refugees or EU migrants must on average “stay/go back” home. Limiting European migration would undermine the EU principle of freedom of movement and would have great impact on European integration strategies; therefore it is very likely that it will be politically defended. Still for the German government it is financially more attractive to employ refugees because, unlike most migrants, these are entitled to local social benefits and cannot be sent home. The outcome of this anticipated conflict is unsure, but realistically up to 350.000 of the current refugee influx will remain unemployed and dependent on welfare for an extended period of time. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

European migrants versus refugees, conflict of interest The influx of EU migrants in Germany is not expected to decline soon because wages are often three times higher than in their originating EU countries. Thus there either is a restricted yearly German labor market absorption capacity for 150.000 refugees or EU migrants must on average “stay/go back” home. Limiting European migration would undermine the EU principle of freedom of movement and would have great impact on European integration strategies; therefore it is very likely that it will be politically defended. Still for the German government it is financially more attractive to employ refugees because, unlike most migrants, these are entitled to local social benefits and cannot be sent home. The outcome of this anticipated conflict is unsure, but realistically up to 350.000 of the current refugee influx will remain unemployed and dependent on welfare for an extended period of time. Money wise the monthly cost of 1000-1300 Euro per refugee is expensive although likely financially affordable for Germany. However, from a human perspective it is a catastrophe to treat people as being useless; therefore Refival attempts to create a better win-win alternative. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Rural Europe Over the past 50 years around 45 million people have left the European countryside and migrated to local urban areas. From there many now move on to the most prosperous European urban areas. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Rural Europe Over the past 50 years around 45 million people have left the European countryside and migrated to local urban areas. From there many now move on to the most prosperous European urban areas. Left behind in the vastly depopulated rural areas are many empty houses and a local infrastructure without active schools, shops and many other facilities. Further, such areas are predominantly populated by older people and therefore possess a very low fertility rate. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Rural Europe Over the past 50 years around 45 million people have left the European countryside and migrated to local urban areas. From there many now move on to the most prosperous European urban areas. Left behind in the vastly depopulated rural areas are many empty houses and a local infrastructure without active schools, shops and many other facilities. Further, such areas are predominantly populated by older people and therefore possess a very low fertility rate. The main reason for migration has been the relative decline of the importance of agriculture in the European GDP and in European employment. Combined with a logistical disadvantage for industrial production, this resulted in rural deprivation. Positive is that ample housing is cheaply available and that the cost of living is low. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Rural Europe Over the past 50 years around 45 million people have left the European countryside and migrated to local urban areas. From there many now move on to the most prosperous European urban areas. Left behind in the vastly depopulated rural areas are many empty houses and a local infrastructure without active schools, shops and many other facilities. Further, such areas are predominantly populated by older people and therefore possess a very low fertility rate. The main reason for migration has been the relative decline of the importance of agriculture in the European GDP and in European employment. Combined with a logistical disadvantage for industrial production, this resulted in rural deprivation. Positive is that ample housing is cheaply available and that the cost of living is low. Meanwhile European labor is over 70% services based, this raises the possibility to revitalize and make rural areas, based on their low living-cost, competitive again. Furthermore, expansion of the European highway road network by now also connects many rural areas. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Internet, migration of jobs instead of people, regenerating infrastructure Refival targets to largely create an Internet based rural society; it primarily focuses on migrating “urban” jobs to rural areas instead of the past trend of “forcing” rural people to move to “urban” jobs. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Internet, migration of jobs instead of people, regenerating infrastructure Refival targets to largely create an Internet based rural society; it primarily focuses on migrating “urban” jobs to rural areas instead of the past trend of “forcing” rural people to move to “urban” jobs. There are many trends in which jobs no longer require urban office space. For example call centers are becoming home based (liveops.com) and one to one teaching is done via Skype (italki.com). Also most software development and ICT management can already be freely moved anywhere. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Internet, migration of jobs instead of people, regenerating infrastructure Refival targets to largely create an Internet based rural society; it primarily focuses on migrating “urban” jobs to rural areas instead of the past trend of “forcing” rural people to move to “urban” jobs. There are many trends in which jobs no longer require urban office space. For example call centers are becoming home based (liveops.com) and one to one teaching is done via Skype (italki.com). Also most software development and ICT management can already be freely moved anywhere. Further many activities are (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crowdsourcing_projects) crowdsourced, allowing numerous people to make a living this way. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Internet, migration of jobs instead of people, regenerating infrastructure Refival targets to largely create an Internet based rural society; it primarily focuses on migrating “urban” jobs to rural areas instead of the past trend of “forcing” rural people to move to “urban” jobs. There are many trends in which jobs no longer require urban office space. For example call centers are becoming home based (liveops.com) and one to one teaching is done via Skype (italki.com). Also most software development and ICT management can already be freely moved anywhere. Further many activities are (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crowdsourcing_projects) crowdsourced, allowing numerous people to make a living this way. However, most of such activities are relatively new and in an early development stage, but if properly and structurally organized many tasks can be actively relocated. Migrating such tasks indirectly results in a demand for community supporting jobs, which often require less specialized labor skills. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Internet, migration of jobs instead of people, regenerating infrastructure Refival targets to largely create an Internet based rural society; it primarily focuses on migrating “urban” jobs to rural areas instead of the past trend of “forcing” rural people to move to “urban” jobs. There are many trends in which jobs no longer require urban office space. For example call centers are becoming home based (liveops.com) and one to one teaching is done via Skype (italki.com). Also most software development and ICT management can already be freely moved anywhere. Further many activities are (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crowdsourcing_projects) crowdsourced, allowing numerous people to make a living this way. However, most of such activities are relatively new and in an early development stage, but if properly and structurally organized many tasks can be actively relocated. Migrating such tasks indirectly results in a demand for community supporting jobs, which often require less specialized labor skills. Internet can also play an important role in re-establishing the rural infrastructure. No school means distance learning, no public transport means UberX taxi, no shop means online ordering and home delivery. Over time reversed urban to rural migration will likely regenerate physical facilities, up till then Internet assists. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refival stage I, the rebuilding stage Rural communities will be selected via a request for tender; their program participation is fully voluntary and requires the availability of housing and an active participation of their population in the program. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refival stage I, the rebuilding stage Rural communities will be selected via a request for tender; their program participation is fully voluntary and requires the availability of housing and an active participation of their population in the program. Real-estate must be acquired from their owners and made suitable for (basic) housing of refugees. Refival targets to involve private, possibly Arab, investors to acquire such real-estate and offer them the opportunity to make a profit from expected capital gain after revitalization of the community. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refival stage I, the rebuilding stage Rural communities will be selected via a request for tender; their program participation is fully voluntary and requires the availability of housing and an active participation of their population in the program. Real-estate must be acquired from their owners and made suitable for (basic) housing of refugees. Refival targets to involve private, possibly Arab, investors to acquire such real-estate and offer them the opportunity to make a profit from expected capital gain after revitalization of the community. Refugee families (rural communities are in principle socially less suitable to house individuals) will be selected on the basis of suitability for employment in Internet based jobs and on their solidarity and willingness to integrate (cultural skills assessment); there is also space for entrepreneurial refugees. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refival stage I, the rebuilding stage Rural communities will be selected via a request for tender; their program participation is fully voluntary and requires the availability of housing and an active participation of their population in the program. Real-estate must be acquired from their owners and made suitable for (basic) housing of refugees. Refival targets to involve private, possibly Arab, investors to acquire such real-estate and offer them the opportunity to make a profit from expected capital gain after revitalization of the community. Refugee families (rural communities are in principle socially less suitable to house individuals) will be selected on the basis of suitability for employment in Internet based jobs and on their solidarity and willingness to integrate (cultural skills assessment); there is also space for entrepreneurial refugees. A free neglected house will be given to refugees with the task to renovate it (direct material cost paid by investors), in return refugees receive a first right to buy the house for the sum of the invested money plus interest. Alternatively they can sell it on returning home, sharing capital gains with investors. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refival stage I, the rebuilding stage Rural communities will be selected via a request for tender; their program participation is fully voluntary and requires the availability of housing and an active participation of their population in the program. Real-estate must be acquired from their owners and made suitable for (basic) housing of refugees. Refival targets to involve private, possibly Arab, investors to acquire such real-estate and offer them the opportunity to make a profit from expected capital gain after revitalization of the community. Refugee families (rural communities are in principle socially less suitable to house individuals) will be selected on the basis of suitability for employment in Internet based jobs and on their solidarity and willingness to integrate (cultural skills assessment); there is also space for entrepreneurial refugees. A free neglected house will be given to refugees with the task to renovate it (direct material cost paid by investors), in return refugees receive a first right to buy the house for the sum of the invested money plus interest. Alternatively they can sell it on returning home, sharing capital gains with investors. Communal facilities will be recreated via Internet until they “physically” regenerate themselves. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refival stage II, the redevelopment stage Although partially in parallel already during stage I, in stage II the focus fully shifts to education, cultural integration and generating employment. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refival stage II, the redevelopment stage Although partially in parallel already during stage I, in stage II the focus fully shifts to education, cultural integration and generating employment. Primary target is to actively organize Internet based jobs. Requirement is that the selected refugees are relatively well educated and already largely possess the basic language and computer skills. However, their expertise may serve world-wide demand. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refival stage II, the redevelopment stage Although partially in parallel already during stage I, in stage II the focus fully shifts to education, cultural integration and generating employment. Primary target is to actively organize Internet based jobs. Requirement is that the selected refugees are relatively well educated and already largely possess the basic language and computer skills. However, their expertise may serve world-wide demand. This will be followed by centering on entrepreneurial development in which smaller scale production can be relocated to lower cost “economic advantage” areas. As a result also community supporting jobs will be generated. From a refugee skills requirement view, Refival follows a top-down approach. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refival stage II, the redevelopment stage Although partially in parallel already during stage I, in stage II the focus fully shifts to education, cultural integration and generating employment. Primary target is to actively organize Internet based jobs. Requirement is that the selected refugees are relatively well educated and already largely possess the basic language and computer skills. However, their expertise may serve world-wide demand. This will be followed by centering on entrepreneurial development in which smaller scale production can be relocated to lower cost “economic advantage” areas. As a result also community supporting jobs will be generated. From a refugee skills requirement view, Refival follows a top-down approach. Whereas the rebuilding stage will be dominantly financed by investors, the redevelopment stage will be largely financed by differences between the social benefit levels “required” in urban versus rural areas. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refival stage II, the redevelopment stage Although partially in parallel already during stage I, in stage II the focus fully shifts to education, cultural integration and generating employment. Primary target is to actively organize Internet based jobs. Requirement is that the selected refugees are relatively well educated and already largely possess the basic language and computer skills. However, their expertise may serve world-wide demand. This will be followed by centering on entrepreneurial development in which smaller scale production can be relocated to lower cost “economic advantage” areas. As a result also community supporting jobs will be generated. From a refugee skills requirement view, Refival follows a top-down approach. Whereas the rebuilding stage will be dominantly financed by investors, the redevelopment stage will be largely financed by differences between the social benefit levels “required” in urban versus rural areas. The target is to create a sustainable and self-supporting community as an end-result. From here the community should be fully revitalized and have regained normal growth potential and be able to attract non-refugee urban migrants or returning natives. The refugee “catalyst” settler role has ended by then. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refival stage III, the resettlement stage In case their originating countries become peaceful again, likely many refugees will opt to go home and rebuild their own countries. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refival stage III, the resettlement stage In case their originating countries become peaceful again, likely many refugees will opt to go home and rebuild their own countries. At this stage they can be replaced by either other refugees or by local “urban to rural” migrants. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refival stage III, the resettlement stage In case their originating countries become peaceful again, likely many refugees will opt to go home and rebuild their own countries. At this stage they can be replaced by either other refugees or by local “urban to rural” migrants. For rebuilding their home countries refugees can take part of the revitalization based capital gain (to which they contributed) with them as a start capital by selling their renovated housing (sharing the profit they make with the original investors). © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Refival stage III, the resettlement stage In case their originating countries become peaceful again, likely many refugees will opt to go home and rebuild their own countries. At this stage they can be replaced by either other refugees or by local “urban to rural” migrants. For rebuilding their home countries refugees can take part of the revitalization based capital gain (to which they contributed) with them as a start capital by selling their renovated housing (sharing the profit they make with the original investors). Further, some of them can migrate their Internet based jobs home. However this is foreseen to be a startup facility only. Upon changing jobs in their home country the original job will return to Refival. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Cultural tolerance and integration model Cultural integration will probably be the hardest part for Refival to achieve in rural communities. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Cultural tolerance and integration model Cultural integration will probably be the hardest part for Refival to achieve in rural communities. Other than in urban areas, refugees cannot cluster and stay separated from European culture but need to fully adapt to common European cultural values such as individual freedom and responsibility. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Cultural tolerance and integration model Cultural integration will probably be the hardest part for Refival to achieve in rural communities. Other than in urban areas, refugees cannot cluster and stay separated from European culture but need to fully adapt to common European cultural values such as individual freedom and responsibility. Of course ample private cultural space is available to preserve refugee traditions. However, in case of conflict, the common European cultural space values must prevail. Refugees are guests and will have to respect their host’s rules. Still Refival targets tolerance rather than dominance. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Cultural tolerance and integration model Cultural integration will probably be the hardest part for Refival to achieve in rural communities. Other than in urban areas, refugees cannot cluster and stay separated from European culture but need to fully adapt to common European cultural values such as individual freedom and responsibility. Of course ample private cultural space is available to preserve refugee traditions. However, in case of conflict, the common European cultural space values must prevail. Refugees are guests and will have to respect their host’s rules. Still Refival targets tolerance rather than dominance. Villagers are also often famous for their intolerance, even in case of people from the next village. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Cultural tolerance and integration model Cultural integration will probably be the hardest part for Refival to achieve in rural communities. Other than in urban areas, refugees cannot cluster and stay separated from European culture but need to fully adapt to common European cultural values such as individual freedom and responsibility. Of course ample private cultural space is available to preserve refugee traditions. However, in case of conflict, the common European cultural space values must prevail. Refugees are guests and will have to respect their host’s rules. Still Refival targets tolerance rather than dominance. Villagers are also often famous for their intolerance, even in case of people from the next village. But if one realizes that most villagers are old and frequently could use some help and that most refugees come from areas where elderly people are respected, it should be possible to bridge the cultural gap. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Cultural tolerance and integration model Cultural integration will probably be the hardest part for Refival to achieve in rural communities. Other than in urban areas, refugees cannot cluster and stay separated from European culture but need to fully adapt to common European cultural values such as individual freedom and responsibility. Of course ample private cultural space is available to preserve refugee traditions. However, in case of conflict, the common European cultural space values must prevail. Refugees are guests and will have to respect their host’s rules. Still Refival targets tolerance rather than dominance. Villagers are also often famous for their intolerance, even in case of people from the next village. But if one realizes that most villagers are old and frequently could use some help and that most refugees come from areas where elderly people are respected, it should be possible to bridge the cultural gap. Experience with elderly people’s homes in Western Europe, where many nurses have a migrant background, shows that adaptation is well possible. Clear and open communication is key here. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

The Refival win-win proposition! Refival generates a European economic development win: More cost effective housing/lower living cost for refugees, thus creating financial space to invest in rural revitalization and in the creation of a rural competitive edge; investment instead of consumption. Development of, Internet based, rural employment instead of long-term paying unemployment benefits. Compensation for the previous fertility- and brain-drain from rural to urban areas. Avoidance of competition between EU migrants and refugees; protection of European freedom of movement values. Refival generates a Refugee win: Chance to acquire and renovate private real-estate and profit from eventual capital gain. Education and employment instead of unemployment. Organic, village community based, integration. For some, upon eventual return home, the possibility to migrate one’s job as a startup occupation. © 2015, Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk

Thank You for Your Attention Thank You for Your Attention! „Win-Win Refugee Integration via Internet Based Revitalization of Rural Europe” Further information: Johannes Cornelis van Nieuwkerk Concept Developer & Initiator jcn@refival.org