Description
In 2014 a sharp increase occurred among the asylum seekers: before 2013 there were about 2-4000 requests but at the end of 2014 it was 32000. More asylum seekers arrive in Hungary than in the neighborhood. Towns with refugee camps face problems: the population has anti-refugee attitude that is strengthened by the extremists thus the integration is not easy. Debrecen has the biggest refugee camp in the country (its capacity is suitable for 800 people) however the integration is unsuccessful because of the negative public sentiment. The main objective of the project is to give a realistic knowledge about asylum seekers and refugees thus to reduce the negative approaches. The project promoter aims to involve local students (about 40 people) who have relevant studies for instance psychology and social workers thus they can help with the integration and rehabilitation of refugees and get realistic professional experience. It also aims to generate cooperation between the educational centers and public service institutions (about 30) dealing with refugees. The project promoter will elaborate an educational methodology, realize trainings and disseminate the results.
Summary of project results
Debrecen is a bigger city in Hungary, where are official facilities to host refugees, and xenophobia is very high here. So the project intended to reduce xenophobia in Debrecen by training local professional, forming attitudes by providing factual figures, and transferring “physiological mentality”. The physo-social support of asylum seekers are not considered as a governmental task in Hungary, although in the European Union the care of refugees is declared as a basic public task. The Cordelia is the only non governmental organization working in this field in Hungary, so with the training of local professionals the Cordelia grounded to ensure its professional aftergrowth. Long term experienced professionals disseminated their knowledge and experience to students of the University of Debrecen in the frame of the project. And 6 students were directéy involved into the field work of the organizations. So that, the students can acquire information directly from the refugees, and due to this process their prejudices were reduced as well. Altogether 71 students took part at the trainings from 6 different faculties, and most of their feedbacks were positive, including their teachers’ feedbacks as well. The awareness raising can also have a direct affect on the wider communities of the involved students, but it cannot be measured at this moment. The government decided to close the refugee camp in Debrecen, and it can have obstacle the students to deepen their practical knowledge and experience in place, and also obstruct the mobilization and activation process of the local community which was generated by the project. However, the project implementers could assist the local community to get to know more deeply the work of those organizations that work in this filed on national level as well. And the Cordelia could obtain useful new contacts and built relationships, and gained relevant knowledge about the methods and challenges related to building its aftergrowth, and Cordelia has started the professional community development targeted outside of Budapest thanks to this project, which can serve the organizational efficiency increment of Cordelia on the long run.
Summary of bilateral results