Contents 1.Why community integration? 2.Priorities and goals 3.Actions 4.Budget and coordination 5.Monitoring and evaluation 6.National campaigns

1. Why community integration? Historical context About 10 to 15 years ago, a lot of new reception centres were set up in Belgium Challenges!  Opposition from local authorities  Local protest by citizens  Very delicate balance between reception centre and local community  …

Need to invest in ‘living together’ 1999: “Local Community Initiatives” - Emergence of the concept, but no clear definition yet. 2000: first criteria were set up - Activities in which asylum seekers can participate - Raising awareness, target = neighbours - Infrastructure and accommodation 2004: Research by 3 universities - The attitude of Belgian population towards asylum seekers - Media reporting on asylum Why community integration?

RESULTS OF THIS RESEARCH CLEAR MISSION STATEMENT “ Community integration wants to create a positive attitude of Belgian citizens towards reception centres for asylum seekers, and strives for a correct, realistic image of ‘the asylum seeker’ = Start of a structural Community Integration Program in Belgium TRANSLATED INTO POLICY Art. 52 Reception Act of 12/1/ “the reception centres organise community integration activities subsidized by Fedasil”

2. Priorities and goals Strategic goals The main goal is to integrate the reception centre in the community and to create a more positive image of asylum seekers, through: 1. Integration 2.Institutionalisation 3. Partnerships 4. Dialogue 5. Information 6. Awareness-raising

2.Priorities and goals Integration Open days, volunteers, work-shops for both asylum seekers and externals, … Institutionalisation Develop a structural cooperation with local authorities Partnership Search partners (sports, sociocultural, …) within the local community to organize activities together or build up a long- term cooperation Dialogue Contact person in the centre for complaints from the neighbours, preemptive approach to anticipate problems, take part in neighbourhood consultations, … Information Local press, newsletters, website, … Raise awareness Educational program for schools and visitors, World Refugee Day,…

2.Priorities and goals Operational goals Priorities are translated into concrete goals: adapted each year according the needs and situation of the reception centres and Fedasil in general. E.g. Problems of agression of single male asylum seekers in the RC => concrete community actions that involve this group Reception crisis => make sure to communicate about this in presentations and local newsletters

3. Actions Open days….

3. Actions Partnerships….

3. Actions Newsletters….

3. Actions Volunteers….

3. Actions Schools and visits….

4. Budget and coordination General coordination: Fedasil communication service - Budget allocation - Approval of project proposals - Follow-up of projects and initiatives - Evaluation and monitoring

Budget for Community Integration

Reception Centres in Belgium

4. Budget and coordination Each Fedasil reception centre: - community worker Tasks: Organize projects, write newsletters & website, make contact with schools, guided tours for visitors, create partnerships,… - global communication plan Yearly overview of projects, activities, partnerships, cooperation with community and police,…

5. Monitoring and evaluation ‘Integration-index’ - Number of volunteers - Number of activities - Reactivity on complaints - Number of local newsletters - Number of partnerships - Ratio asylum seekers/externals - Number of schools visiting Evaluation: evaluation files, meetings, visiting activities

Integration index

6. National campaigns Broad information and awareness campaigns on national level, towards a large public - unique cooperation between governmental organizations, NGO’s, UNHCR

6. National campaigns - WRD Fair Play for refugees

6. National campaigns - WRD Refugee for a day

6. National campaigns Flashmob Ut79ZutM8cs

Questions?