Newsletter February 2010 English.pdf
-
Upload
caritas-internationl -
Category
Documents
-
view
488 -
download
5
description
Transcript of Newsletter February 2010 English.pdf
Caritas International
Cell Voluntary Return & Reintegration
Head of service Anne Dussart
+32 2 2293604
Asia Annelieke Carlier
+32 2 2293586
Africa Thomas Jézéquel
+32 2 2111052
Balkan Sofie De Mot
+32 2 2111059
Latin America Rut Van Caudenberg
+32 2 2293602
Caucase/Ukraine Ine Lietaert
+32 2 2293602
Country information Alexander Coppens
+32 2 2293650
www.reintegrationcaritas.be
In 2009, 3 years after we started working world-
wide, the cell Voluntary Return & Reintegration
worked in 38 countries and our network of local
partners was expanded.
In 2009, 259 persons were assisted during their
return and reintegration, whereas in 2008 they
numbered 347. In total more than 850 persons
have been supported by the cell Voluntary Re-
turn & Reintegration since 2006. At the begin-
ning, only Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine and Serbia
were our partner countries. Ever since the activi-
ties in 2007 have widened to a worldwide level,
788 people have been assisted.
The toughening of accessibility criteria of the
reintegration program and the announcement of
a large regularisation campaign in July led to a
remarkable decrease of the number of demands
compared to 2008. The very last weeks of the
year showed a slight increase of the normal
number of returns, as many had only postponed
their departure to check if they met the criteria
of the regularisation campaign.
Our main return countries remained essentially
the same as in 2008, though the Latin American
and the African countries became more impor-
Out of the need and the concern to evaluate and
adjust our program on a permanent basis, 9 evalua-
tion missions were undertaken in 2009, some in the
frame of the national project FEDASIL, others in the
frame of European projects as ERSO and CRI.
Throughout 2009, our partners and projects in Ar-
menia, Georgia, Ukraine, Serbia, Montenegro, Cam-
eroon, Nepal and Mongolia were visited and evalu-
ated in this way.
Besides these evaluation missions, an international
partner week was organized in Brussels from 26th
to
30th
of October. In this week partners from 12 coun-
tries met to prepare in a very intensive way our new
European project “Strengthening Tailor Made As-
sisted Voluntary Return: STAVR”. From 2010 the
local partners will function as “focal points” in this
project (see article p2)
In 2009 two projects that started in 2006 and 2007
were closed. Both of the projects where we have
been cooperating in an active way, namely CRI
(Country of Return Information) and ERSO
(European Reintegration Support Organizations).
The CRI project has ended but it brought to Caritas
and the concerned partners a lot of expertise re-
garding the cooperation with local partners for col-
lecting information. We continue to cooperate with
these CRI partners in the frame of the new STAVR
project and requires of the 14 focal point countries
who are now fixed partners, that they should be
able to provide quickly a detailed answer to any
question from migrants or social services in Bel-
gium.
The ERSO project, officially closed in august 2009,
persists through an internet platform which creates
the opportunity for Caritas and other European
NGO’s who are member of ERSO, to continue work-
ing together. Thanks to this ERSO project our part-
ners from different countries as Caritas Armenia,
Mongolia and Ukraine got reinforced. As a result,
returnees from Belgium, Austria, Germany and the
Netherlands could been offered the same assistance
in these countries. The extra reintegration support,
offered by different ERSO-partners, has been equal-
ised which made disappear the existing differences
in between national reintegration programs.
Thomas Jézéquel
Return & Reintegration
N U M B E R 0 8 - F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 0
Content
Statistical analysis Caritas 2009
International Partner week 2009
Information sessions about voluntary
return
A return story: Nepal and Macedonia
Statistical analysis Caritas 2009
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
janv-0
8févr-08
mars-0
8avr-08
mai-08
juin-0
8juil-0
8août-08
sept-08
oct-08
nov-0
8déc-0
8janv-0
9févr-09
mars-0
9avr-09
mai-09
juin-0
9juil-0
9août-09
sept-09
oct-09
nov-0
9déc-0
9
Series1
Main return countries
2008 2009
Brazil 65 Ukraine 58
Mongolia 32 Mongolia 44
Ukraine 22 Armenia 34
Nepal 16 Brazil 34
Bosnië 12 Nepal 24
Armenia 11 Kosovo 17
Kososvo 10 Serbia 14
Serbia 9 Georgia 14
Georgia 9 Bosnia 11
Cameroon 6 Macedonia 11
2 R E T U R N & R E I N T E G R A T I O N - N U M B E R 0 8 - F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 0
International Partner week 2009
The traditional partner week of Caritas International Belgium was
organized in October 2009. 14 partners of 14 different nationali-
ties were invited. 3AE (Guinea) and Caritas Nepal were unable to
come, the others were present: Caritas Armenia, Drina (Bosnia),
IMDH Name (Brazil), HIAS (Ecuador), Caritas Georgia, Caritas India,
CCEY (Cameroon), Caritas Kosovo, Caritas Mongolia, Solidarity Net
Ukraine, Caritas Senegal and BCGO (Togo).
Each partner was given the time to present himself and his organi-
sation and Caritas International too introduced its activities. On day
two, the new STAVR project for 2010 was explained. The goal of this
pilot project is to create in 14 countries with a high return percent-
age, an intensive and professional assistance, for vulnerable groups
and persons who want to start up a micro-business, through a fixed
structure of local partners (focal points). These 14 countries are
Armenia, Bosnia, Brazil, Cameroun, Ecuador, Georgia, Guinea, India,
Kosovo, Mongolia, Nepal, Ukraine, Senegal and Togo.
Therefore, during the partner week, the development of independ-
ent businesses in the homeland was focussed upon. For this pur-
pose, the brand new partnership with UNIZO was explained and
UNIZO members introduced themselves and their organisation.
They confirmed that, from now on, they are willing to guide individ-
ual returnees intensively to prepare a business plan. Beside this
option, special attention will still be given in 2010 to vulnerable
returnees (sick people, minors…).
On Wednesday, we had a separate meeting with each of our foreign
guests about the strengths and weaknesses of the project: what
should we pay more attention to, what can be done differently?
Things as the impossibility to overview huge countries (Brazil,
Ukraine…), difficult internet connections (African countries), the
prominent and permanent presence of the past in former conflict
zones (Balkan), recurred in these meetings.
In the afternoon, a maating took place among the Africans, in
preparation of the African conference that will be organised by Cari-
tas Belgium in Senegal in November 2010. Also Cordaid from the
Netherlands and Caritas Europe were present as involved parties.
The African conference will be a meeting between more than ten
African organizations working in reintegration, from as many coun-
tries. Its objective is to strengthen a common awareness about rein-
tegration.
For the social workers in Belgium, the climax of this week was the
partner day, where everyone confronted with voluntary return in
Belgium, had the chance to question the local partners about very
concrete possibilities and events in the specific countries. The turn-
out was very high (up to 50 attendees) and participation was ani-
mated and interactive. This busy day of workshops was concluded
with a casual reception. The feedback we received afterwards, was
unanimously positive.
The last day of this “work week” (this year we had no time for a
trip!) was dedicated to Country Information. After years of ex-
perience in European projects, Caritas Belgium wants to continue
the information gathering on his own and in an appropriate way.
It is important that the foreign partners know exactly what we
want to achieve and which type of practical, useful reports we
want to publish together and update on our website
www.reintegrationcaritas.be. In addition, we expect that our
partners are always willing to investigate any question about
their country and that they answer quickly. Through a short
training we explained the criteria the information should meet
(recent info, profound sources, thorough and reliable examina-
tion). Only in this way it is possible for Caritas Belgium to func-
tion as a solid help desk were each migrant may ask his/her
questions about his/her country.
The partner week was a success, and perhaps it was the most
valuable partner week so far. Together, we worked, listened,
discussed en debated harder than ever about the sense and the
nonsense, the success and the objectives of reintegration. The
past was evaluated, the future project was explained, planned
and carefully considered. The fundaments have been laid for
2010, a year with a lot of changes: increased and tailored social
support for each problem, more detailed reporting and higher
budgets for micro businesses. Caritas realizes that they cherish
high expectations from their international partners and tries to
comply with any need for support or concerns and comments.
Besides the planned activities, the partner week caused an unex-
pected and fascinating border phenomenon. What began as a
gathering of delegates from around the world, who introduced
themselves with much reserve, ended in a gathering of a close
group of friends in a very positive atmosphere. To be repeated.
Annelieke Carlier
3 R E T U R N & R E I N T E G R A T I O N - N U M B E R 0 8 - F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 0
Information sessions about voluntary return
Besides providing increased reintegration assistance in the
country of return, the information to the target group in
Belgium about the possibilities after a voluntary return is
also a major objective of the new STAVR project. From ex-
perience, Caritas International realizes that migrant organi-
sations are the most accessible way to reach migrants.
Therefore different migrant communities have been con-
tacted in a first phase of this project. With Caritas Interna-
tional they published an information leaflet in their mother
tongue. Some migrant organisations organised already an
information session where the possibilities of voluntary
return have been explained.
The first information session on 12th
of December was or-
ganised by Ev Negdel, an organisation representing the
Mongolian community in Belgium. As the majority of the
Mongolian community lives in Antwerp, the information
session was organised in this city at the Scheldt. After the
presentation of the reintegration possibilities in Mongolia,
there was an opportunity to ask questions, concluded by a
drink. The interest and the attention for the information
session was high and this offer of clear information in their
own mother language was an important matter for the
Mongolian community.
On 13th of December the Ecuadorian migrant organisation
ASERB started their session, which they chose to organise on
a wide variety of subjects (and not only voluntary return).
Therefore, also Oscar
Flores of CRER and
Dorien De Troy of
UNIZO were invited.
They gave a presenta-
tion about the regu-
larisation procedure
and about the possi-
bilities to open a busi-
ness in Belgium if
regularised. As a third
issue in this program, a presentation about voluntary return
and reintegration followed. That Sunday morning, a lot of
people were presentad in the Pianofabriek in Saint Gillis,
and though the majority of Ecuadorians apply for regularisa-
tion, there was enough interest for voluntary return as well.
Mônica Pereira representing the Brazilian migrant organisa-
tion Abraço then, chose to reach the large Brazilian commu-
nity in Brussels through the church. In January the catholic
church in Saint Gillis and the church of the Brazilian Christian
community in Anderlecht were visited. After the service we
had the opportunity to talk shortly about reintegration in
Brazil. Afterwards people could ask questions. The church is
a very important meeting place for Brazilians. On a short
time, hundreds of Brazilians could be reached and informed.
At the beginning of Christmas holidays, Caritas International
opened its doors for the Georgian, the Armenian and the
Ukrainian community. The Armenian migrant community
Narek represented by mr Jamharyan, and mrs Managadze as
important key figures in the Georgian community, as well as
mr Kiryenko of the Ukrainian church, had put their forces
together to organize
an information ses-
sion and were trans-
lating simultane-
ously for the present
participants. Mr
Jamharyan as well as
mrs Managadze had
experience of orga-
nizing information sessions out of an earlier cooperation
with Caritas International through the CRI project. After
presentation and questions, everybody could stay and have
typical and original Armenian, Georgian and Ukrainian drinks
and food.
As far as the African communities are concerned, contacts
have been settled with the Guinean, Cameroonian and Sene-
galese communities. The meetings are difficult to organise
but the representants of the Senegalese association SENE-
BEL (www.wasenebel.be) and the Cameroonian BRUKMER
(www.brukmer.be) are already spreading the information in
the heart of the community, and Caritas International inter-
venes on 6th
of February during the Cameroonian cultural
week in Brussels with a debate about the possibilities to
start up a business in their country.
The cooperation with different migrant organisations is very
important to Caritas. These communities know the people
who they are representing, they speak their language and
they know how they can be reached. Moreover this coop-
eration permits us to get to know better the migrant and its
reality in Belgium.
In the near future, information sessions for the Nepalese,
Indian, Bosnian, Kosova, Cameroonian and Guinean commu-
nities are programmed.
Rut Van Caudenberg
4 R E T U R N & R E I N T E G R A T I O N - N U M B E R 0 8 - F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 0
A return story from Nepal
In 2004, the 29 year old Ram Chandra fled the civil war in Nepal and
came to Belgium in the hope to obtain a residence permit here.
When, after four years waiting, it became clear that he had no
chance to obtain legal documents, he decided to return to Nepal
In order to facilitate his reintegration, he asked Caritas international
to support his return. From the start, Ram Chandra had a clear plan
about how to invest his reintegration budget: he had obtained a lot of
computer knowledge in Belgium and he wanted to use this knowledge
to start up a computer shop, as the interest in computers and the
internet is strongly increasing in Nepal.
Ram Chandra went back to his country end October, just in time to
celebrate the important religious Deepawali festival, the festival of
light, together with his family. Ram Chandra could live with his par-
ents again. His wife and son had stayed with them during his absence.
After returning, Ram Chandra contacted Caritas Nepal and as planned,
he invested his reintegration budget in a computer shop. While it was
too expensive to start up a business on his own, he became partner in
the business of a friend. The store runs well, although the high com-
petition doesn’t make it easy. Currently, Ram Chandra is looking for
additional budget to extend the store with an electric device depart-
ment. He hopes to be able to borrow money from friends to realize
this.
In February 2009, some staff members of Caritas International visited
their partner in Kathmandu and brought also a visit to Ram Chandra
and his family in Chitwan. Ram Chandra stressed that it is very impor-
tant to be able to fall back on support from friends and family. That
support made his return a lot easier. Beside that, he thinks that having
an income is the most important factor the have a successful return.
Ram Chandra told us that he is satisfied with his shop and that he will
do everything to build out his business. Five months after his return,
he considered that returning has been the right decision.
Ine Lietaert
Jacob, who returned in November, wished to obtain extra assistance
upon his return to open a pizzeria.
Jacob returned in November to Kumanova, a city in Macedonia, at a
distance of 20 km from the capital Skopje. In Macedonia, we work
together with our local partner Nadez-CSI/Caritas Macedonia. Klara is
the social worker who is responsible for the return assistance.
Jakob still has family (wife and children) and friends in his home coun-
try. After his return, he could rely on them. The idea for his micro
business came mainly from his experience as manager of a pizzeria.
His plans were discussed in Belgium and Caritas International Belgium
contacted the local partner to check the feasibility of this project.
Starting an income generating activity is encouraged because this
gives people the opportunity to support themselves and their family,
but starting up a business is not always evident because often the
economical conditions are difficult in the country of origin.
Immediately after his return, Jacob contacted Klara. Klara always tries
to visit the people at their houses (if people agree with this) to form a
picture of the needs (and life conditions) of the returnees.
Klara and Jacob talked about the reintegration project. During the visit,
they agreed that Jacob should take his time to visit different shops and
companies in Kumanova to compare the prices. After he made a study
of all the cost, the required material was bought.
Jacob was very pleased with the cooperation with the local partner,
although the 700 euro appeared to be insufficient to buy the entire
equipment for his restaurant. Klara is waiting now for the official open-
ing of the pizzeria, which is expected in March 2010…
Sofie De Mot
Ram Chandra and his business partner
A return story from Macedonia