Enhancing Social Inclusion of Young Migrants in the EU: A Collaborative Effort

Between 10.4.2023 and 17.4.2023, this project aimed to train youth workers to mentor and support young migrants in the EU, enhancing their social inclusion. Through a comprehensive training program, 24 participants from partner NGOs developed skills in mentorship, cultural intelligence, and coordination. The outcome included better integration of migrants, improved skills among youth workers, and a guide on best practices for wider dissemination and support in migrant assistance.

The project was a collaboration between eight partner organizations specializing in youth work and migrant integration, bringing diverse experiences and resources to enrich the program's overall effectiveness. 



The participating organizations were:
POVOD, ZAVOD ZA KULTURO IN RAZVOJ MEDNARODNIH ODNOSOV V KULTURI - Slovenia
PRISMS
FUNDACJA EUROPEJSKI INSTYTUT OUTSOURCINGU
DENEYIMSEL EGITIM MERKEZI DERNEGI
Kogemuskeskus MTÜ
SWIDEAS AB
IASIS
MALI MUSOW ODV
ASSOCIATION INTERCULTURA













The main objectives were to strengthen youth workers’ capacity in cultural mediation, mentoring, volunteer recruitment, training, and coordination. The project sought to accelerate the social inclusion of newly arrived migrants by training youth workers as mentors, expand and improve existing mentoring practices for migrants in Europe, and develop a best practices document for future use by organizations and stakeholders.

The activities included a training program for young migrant mentors covering topics such as mentorship, working with migrants, and mentor coordination. The training covered essential areas such as understanding the mentor role, mentorship tools, emotional and cultural intelligence, cultural perspectives and gender roles, language exchange solutions, formal and informal education, employment opportunities, refugee and migrant rights, democratic participation, and developing social networks for migrants. A total of 27 participants, with each of the seven partner organizations contributing three, engaged in the training. The participants were primarily youth workers from the partner organizations, many of whom came from disadvantaged rural backgrounds or had a migrant background.











Following the training, mentors were supported in their work with migrants, as well as in recruiting and coordinating new mentors. Progress was monitored through regular virtual meetings and two workshops summarizing best mentoring practices for migrants. The insights and experiences gathered during the project were documented in a publicly available best practices document.The project achieved notable results, including improved knowledge and skills among participants, increased organizational experience in implementing training programs, and strengthened international collaboration. Young volunteers involved in the project gained valuable knowledge and hands-on experience in supporting young migrants, benefiting their personal and professional growth. Partner organizations developed new expertise in Erasmus+ projects and volunteer group organization. Trained mentors provided direct support to migrants, facilitating their integration into society and positively impacting their education, employment, and social inclusion













A best practice document was created as a resource for organizations working with migrants or planning similar initiatives. The project also enhanced public awareness through social media, website updates, and media releases, offering insight into the importance of migrant integration efforts. By leveraging the strengths of multiple partner organizations and empowering youth workers, the project had a significant impact on the lives of young migrants and the broader community.