Five organizations are being supported by the seventh edition of PartecipAzione, the empowerment and capacity-building program by INTERSOS and UNHCR. Here is a description of the projects they have implemented from North to South of Italy.

 

There are language and digital literacy training courses for refugees forced to flee conflict zones, as well as sexual and reproductive health workshops dedicated to women who have survived violence and exploitation. Community theater workshops, holistic and sustainable creativity labs, support services for accessing education designed for Afghan refugee women, and intercultural dialogue workshops. Moreover, psychosocial support groups, cooking classes, and artistic and cultural activities aimed at discovering the local area.

These initiatives – and much more – make up the projects developed this year by the organizations supported by PartecipAzione, the empowerment and capacity-building program by UNHCR and INTERSOS that fosters the creation, growth, and sustainability of refugee-led associations in Italy.

In its seventh edition, PartecipAzione has involved five new organizations from North to South. 

 

The organizations of 2024

  • The project by ASDA – Association of African Diaspora Students, active in the city of Naples, is titled “Art as a Work of Integration” and aims to showcase the beauty and artistic treasures of Campania to refugees and asylum seekers through moments of exchange and sharing. They are, in fact, the ones who take center stage in choosing the routes and itineraries, collectively defined during preparatory meetings, which in recent months have led them to visit the archaeological site of Pompeii, the Royal Palace of Caserta, city museums, and foundations.
  • “Akugbe: Let’s Walk Together” is the project by Donne di Benin City, focused on the inclusion and empowerment of refugee and asylum-seeking women within Palermo’s sociocultural fabric, as they navigate pathways out of gender-based violence and exploitation. To achieve this goal, the association has set up a support and guidance center, along with various workshops on legal guidance, sexual and reproductive health, family relationships, child care and nurturing, and a cooking workshop aimed at promoting the knowledge and consumption of local products.
  • The project name, “Art and Education for Community Growth,” is a manifesto that reflects the Nawroz association’s goal of overcoming linguistic and cultural barriers to facilitate the cohesion and integration of the Afghan community in Rome, with a particular focus on access to education and women’s empowerment. To achieve this, Nawroz has organized a community theater workshop, educational support services, and study assistance, as well as welcome programs dedicated to refugees, cultural events, and performances to share the culture and traditions of Afghanistan.
  • Sensi Holistic Creative Agency, an association founded in 2023 in Rome, also highlights the role of art as a driver of integration. Its aim is to create a creative space for the Ukrainian community and beyond. Supported by PartecipAzione, the project “The Art of Healing” focuses on the mental health of refugees and sustainable well-being within communities, addressing the need for personal and collective adaptation and growth. The various stages of the initiative have included a sustainable holistic creativity workshop, a sociopsychological support group, a series of guided tours exploring the artistic wonders of the capital, and two intercultural dialogue workshops.
  • SSAW – Support Survivors of African War, an organization founded in early 2024 under the leadership of Sudanese refugees, has developed a program in Milan aimed at removing language barriers and promoting inclusion and social cohesion. To achieve this goal, the association has organized, as part of the PartecipAzione-supported project “Linguistic and Digital Training Courses,” English and Italian language classes and digital skills training for refugees and asylum seekers.

 

                                 Italian course provided by SSAW

 

This year, PartecipAzione has also supported AWA, an informal group of Afghan refugees active in Milan, engaged in socio-cultural support activities. The group is in the process of formally registering to become an association, aiming to expand its activities with a specific focus on disseminating information and promoting Afghan culture.

 

The program

In seven years, PartecipAzione has supported over 60 associations in 12 regions of Italy, providing them with tailored training pathways, skills enhancement activities, financial and technical support for project implementation, and individualized coaching. This has contributed to the creation of protective networks for refugees and asylum seekers and has fostered more inclusive and welcoming communities.

In 2023 alone, the program engaged over 1,000 refugees and 30 associations in more than 260 coaching sessions focused on communication, networking, project ideation and development, and administration.