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Description
The project answers coherently to the problem of high social exclusion of the asylum seekers and refugees (beneficiaries of International protection) on Romanian territory. The project proposes an integrated intervention in 5 refugees centres in our country: Bucharest, Galati, Radauti, Somcuta Mare (Maramures county) and Timisoara. Given the international political context, in the last years we have noticed an increased number of asylum requests in Romania (over 2000 annual requests) – 20% of the asylum requests are sent in for children. The analysis prepared by the applicant in the planning phase of the project showed that asylum seekers and refugees in our country have a low level of human rights knowledge, refugee children have a poor access to education and a lack of support towards educational adaptation, limited access to linguistic assistance. The project`s intervention addresses 600 asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection from the 5 centres. We will organize informative workshops on human rights and social and economic rights for these target groups, we will have consultations with the beneficiaries of services, we will provide support services for social and economical integration of asylum seekers and refugees, we will develop a model for integrated services replicable in other initiatives, we will create local networks of support, including action plans at a community level and roundtables with relevant stakeholders. The activities will be carried out by Save the Children and JRS Romania. The two organizations have a consistent experience in working with similar target groups and bring as input to the project good practices and lessons learned from previous endeavours. Through the project, 14 employees of the two organizations that will be involved in working with the target groups will be trained in order to improve the organizational capacity of Save the Children and JRS Romania.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to support asylum seekers and refugees in five Romanian accommodation centers, addressing their high social exclusion and limited access to education, legal assistance, and employment. With asylum requests rising—from 1,266 in 2015 to 2,592 in 2019, 20% of which were from children—existing services were often rigid and poorly adapted to their needs. Key challenges included limited education, language support, and job integration. The project was crucial given Romania’s role as a transit country and the increasing number of asylum seekers under the Dublin Regulation.
Between April 2021 and September 2022, the project assisted over 2,000 asylum seekers and refugees across five reception centers in Romania, including approximately 1,000 Ukrainian refugees. The support included counseling, information on rights and obligations, and help accessing services to improve living conditions. Key activities involved 103 workshops informing beneficiaries, socio-economic and educational support, and social research on the needs of the beneficiaries through focus groups and interviews. The project also created five local networks of actors involved in migrant integration, organized 20 workshops, developed five local action plans, and distributed an "Integration guide for refugees and asylum seekers".
The project significantly improved the lives of the targeted beneficiaries. 2,092 asylum seekers and refugees received essential legal and humanitarian assistance, helping them better understand their rights and access critical services. Educational and socioeconomic integration services helped 1,522 individuals, particularly children, to adjust and participate in society. The research conducted helped identify and address the most pressing needs of the target group, which directly influenced the development of tailored interventions. The creation of local networks facilitated ongoing cooperation between public and private actors, enhancing the sustainability of integration efforts.