Red Cross EU Office Red Cross support and

Red Cross EU Office Red Cross support and services for migrants and asylum seekers Pilot action “Interreg response to migration-related challenges” Technical brainstorming and exchange meeting, July 2016, Vienna Eberhard Lueder, Head of Social Inclusion, Red Cross EU Office

Red Cross EU Office About Red Cross

Red Cross EU Office Red Cross in the European Union 28 national organisations in the EU Local branches in every region across the EU

Red Cross EU Office Services and support for migrants The more and the less visible forms of assistance • Humanitarian assistance in conflict regions • Assistance and support along migration trails • Emergency assistance in (EU) arrival countries • Practical assistance and support in transit countries • Welcome and arrival assistance in destination countries • Prepare for and support to integration & inclusion in local communities • Support and services for undocumented migrants

Red Cross EU Office Cooperation on migration Three good reasons for cooperation between regions and cities on migration-related challenges 1. Migration is no short-term disaster but a long-term challenge; for years to come Europe ought to be prepared to host and support migrants arriving in local communities. 2. Regions and cities do the bulk of practical work in support and care for migrants, in particular for long-term integration and inclusion. We are concerned about communities not used to welcome migrants. 3. Every week, somewhere in Europe, authorities and organisations develop new ways of working with migrants. Sharing experiences and cooperating helps improving the services and bring benefit to hosting communities.

Red Cross EU Office The real deal: Activities in the field Three good pitches for work currently done and new ideas currently spinning 1. Swedish Red Cross Treatment centres for persons affected by war and torture 2. Danish Red Cross and Danish Refugee Council The Buddy Project 3. Red Cross Psychosocial Centre Building integration though group activities

Red Cross EU Office Swedish Red Cross Treatment centres for persons affected by war and torture § Care and treatment for persons suffering from trauma linked to war, torture or difficult/dangerous migration § § Six treatment centres across Sweden § Individual treatment plans, holistic approach, individual needs in focus, supporting also the family and children of patients. § Collaboration with other Red Cross services e. g. tracing of missing family members, family reunification, legal aid during the asylum procedure, social activities etc. § Red Cross accepts patients regardless of their legal status i. e. asylum seekers, undocumented migrants, people with a residence permit in Sweden, Swedish citizens with a refugee background. Multidisciplinary teams of professional psychologists and psychotherapists, physiotherapists, social workers, doctors, interpreters and administrators

Red Cross EU Office Danish Red Cross and Danish Refugee Council The Buddy-Project § § Ensure all newly arrived refugees are offered a “buddy” in their local community § Buddies are trained by local volunteer coordinators who support, supervise and recruit buddies within the community; coordinators are supported and trained by staff at the national headquarters. § Community meetings with representatives from municipalities, civil society organisations and the general public; engage in dialogue on how to coordinate and pool resources § The buddy program is presently implemented in 45+ municipalities with the aim of scaling up activities and expanding to all municipalities § The buddy programme is addressing the individual (promoting integration) as well as the community (creating social cohesion) Buddy role: Practical guidance, opens doors to local networking, and cultural and lingual interpretation easing the way into Danish society and local community.

Red Cross EU Office Danish Red Cross and Danish Refugee Council The Buddy-Project “For me it is about making friends. It is good for me and Rani to meet a Danish family and learn about your culture and traditions” Nidal Hasan, 39 years old, refugee from Syria who fled with his 4 year old son Rani. Nidal has a volunteer buddy.

Red Cross EU Office Red Cross Psychosocial Centre Building integration through group activities § Pilot project with migrants and local helpers (Red Cross buddies) to strengthen connectedness in local societies - promoting self-help strategies to resolve problems. § Preventive approach: Tackle psychosocial problems also to avoid life-time dependence on health and social services. § § § Uncover and understand problems and to discuss solutions to problems. § § § Taking the buddy activities from a interpersonal to a group oriented level. Key elements include concern, empathy, respect, trust, cooperation, problem solving. Pilots in Denmark and Norway where buddy-programmes are operational, roll-out to other countries at later stage. Regular meetings (six meetings in six months) in local group context Group facilitators work on the basis of PS Centre facilitation and training manual, group process module, facilitator training courses, monitoring and evaluation system

Red Cross EU Office Red Cross Psychosocial Centre Building integration through group activities

Red Cross EU Office Thank you! Sara Fridlund Swedish Red Cross (Treatment centres) sara. fridlund@redcross. se Martin Rosenkilde Pedersen Reference Centre for Psychosocial Support mrped@rodekors. dk Sira Støhrmann Danish Red Cross (Buddy-programme) sirst@rodekors. dk Eberhard Lueder Red Cross EU Office eberhard. lueder@redcross. eu @Red. Cross. EU www. facebook. com/Red. Cross. EU