Migration and integration
Migration and integration
In a sustainable society
we leave
no one behind
Luigi Narici/ AGF

Integration of vulnerable groups of refugees and migrants

Every person should be able to live with dignity. However, poverty, unemployment and discrimination marginalise people, violating their rights and generating social inequalities. People of low income, belonging to minorities, living in depressed areas, coming from third countries, often do not have the opportunity to live with dignity.

At ActionAid, we work for a society that accommodates everyone. We remove the barriers that children, young people and adults face so that they can have a better life, a better future. Together with the individuals who claim an equal place and in partnership with groups and organisations, we work both to promote measures that facilitate the inclusion process and to fight discrimination and protect human rights. Because every person has the right to belong to society and to be supported by it.

How we enhance integration

Our programmes aim to change the public debate on migration and the policies that divide society, and to promote sustainable migration policies so that everyone enjoys equal opportunities and rights.

 

In particular, we design and implement:
1

Workshops, activities and services in our Centres in Athens and Thessaloniki to support vulnerable people, such as refugees and migrants.

2

Educational programmes with experiential activities on the refugee crisis and respect for diversity.

3

Awareness-raising campaigns on integration, migration and protection of human rights.

4

Institutional pressure on governments to adopt migration policies based on solidarity and dignity.

Inclusion and acceptance through football

The aim of the DIALECT programme is to bring together young people living in Greece and in other European countries and, through football to promote human rights and to fight intolerance and xenophobia. At a time when politics meets football and leads people, especially young persons, to hate speech and racism, it is imperative to find an alternative use of football, turning it into a means that promotes solidarity. The project is funded by the European Commission and is expected to run until 2024.

Football as a means of promoting human rights

Campaign to improve migration policies

We participated in the global campaign entitled Faces of Migration, which linked migration to the promotion, adoption and implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We presented stories of people suffering from policies of inequality, particularly from inadequate European migration policies, and we raise awareness about the Goals. The ultimate goal of our actions was to put pressure on EU Member State governments to adopt migration policies based on solidarity and dignity. The project was funded by the EU Development Education and Awareness Raising (DEAR) Programme and was completed in 2022.

No one should be left behind, so we can all move forward

Combatting racist speech

We participated in the CIAK Migraction international programme, which aimed to create an inclusive narrative for people of different origins living in our country, by highlighting the contribution of migration to economic and social development. The programme promoted the integration of refugees in 4 EU countries: Italy, Greece, Austria and Hungary. Our actions focused on combatting misleading information and fake news, while promoting a public debate on matters of refugee and migrant integration, with responsibility and respect for people’s rights, in order to tackle discrimination and racism. The project was funded by the European Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and was completed in 2021.

Against racism and discrimination

Key definitions of migration and integration

Refugees are persons who are forced to flee their country because their life is in danger or who are at risk of persecution because of their race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation or political beliefs. Refugees are defined and protected under international law, in particular under the 1951 Geneva Convention.

Migrants are persons who move to improve their living conditions, seeking better working conditions or to escape extreme poverty in their communities.