To respond to the need to listen to unaccompanied foreign minors and guarantee their right to participate in all those processes that involve social workers as key actors in determining the best interests of the minor, UNHCR in collaboration with CNOAS (National Council for assistants social workers) decided to structure a path that would enhance the point of view and the active participation of minors and young adults on issues relating to the role and function of the social worker by developing activities within an experience to be carried out remotely .

The foreign minors and young adults involved were 10 from Cameroon, Gambia, Guinea, Mali, Morocco, Bangladesh currently based in residential facilities located in: Trentino, Basilicata, Puglia.

The course lasted one month.

The project therefore took the form of a listening / training course for UNAM’s (Unaccompanied Minor) and young adults delivered at a distance, aimed at building an online training module for Social Workers. In particular, minors and young adults have co-created and shared a handbook in which some indications are summarized which, from their point of view, would improve and make the comparison between UNAM and Social Worker more constructive.

Ensure effective participation of the minors and young adults involved;

Enhance the right of minors and young adults to be heard through focus group discussions and participatory activities;

Create an empowerment experience for the group of minors and young adults involved;

Offer minors and young adults the opportunity to be considered as agents of change and not just as simple recipients of policies and services;

Unaccompanied foreign minors and young adults aged between 16 and 19, students of the CPIAs of the territorial offices of reference in the areas of Trentino, Basilicata and Puglia.

1 month

The course was divided into 7 appointments lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes per meeting, for a total of 10.5 hours plus 4 hours of tutoring.

The activities were developed “remotely” using methodology and tools for collecting data in an interactive way, through game apps, sharing and creative production.

There were moments with activities carried out in an enlarged group, with others with small groups, with moments of one-to-one confrontation. The latter were very important in creating a relationship of trust between the operators and the UNAM’s and young people involved and in recreating the exchange modalities more typical of the physical relationship in presence.

The methodology that guided the implementation of the needs collection process within the project was based on interactive activities in which participants could transform themselves into creators of multimedia content to tell their point of view on the specific topic.

In fact, we know that the use of technological tools in carrying out training activities makes the topic dealt with by young people more stimulating and engaging.

The young people and UNAM’s involved therefore developed basic digital skills at the same time and were able to express their point of view on the specific theme covered by the course, even in informal ways.

Among the tools used: interactive gaming and survey platforms, apps for creating podcasts, videos, graphics.

Creation of a decalogue by the beneficiaries relating to the role of the social worker in taking care of migrants as a fundamental moment because it is active from the earliest stages of reception and along the entire path of inclusion.

To achieve these objectives, UNHCR, CNOAS and Cooperativa Densa have developed a series of activities that include training sessions, workshops and meetings on issues related to the protection of refugees and asylum seekers, development of research and reports on the protection status of refugees and asylum seekers. asylum in Italy, and promotion of activities, both at national and local level, aimed at the integration of refugees and asylum seekers, with a specific focus on people with specific needs.

Useful Links

UNHCR2020_Report_ENG_(2).pdf

Giving voice to young refugees in Italy