1. Foyer
NGOs and cities working together for
integration of migrants
Integrating Cities VI Conference
September 2013
Ann Trappers, Integration Centre Foyer

2. FOYER
Making integration work in Brussels

3. The Foyer family
Regional Integration
Centre
•Interculturalisation & social
cohesion
•Legal Support
•Roma & Travellers Service
Dar Al Amal women’s
centre
Foyer des Jeunes
Foyer Youth Work
Team & BIS Foyer
integration
through sports
Foyer Training
Centre & T-
Impact
Neighbourhood
workshop

4. Foyer’s Mission
To contribute to a society that takes a positive approach to
diversity and in which all citizens can participate equally,
regardless of their background

5. The Foyer Approach
• Strengthen social cohesion…
• … by informing people about diversity and by…
• …supporting & reinforcing the work of grassroots organizations
and dynamics…
• … and let a real and concrete understanding of multiculturalism
and interculturalism inform policy recommendations.

6. EXAMPLES OF OUR WORK

7. T-Impact
Part-time work experience for 15-
to 18-year-olds through "bridging
projects".
Pupils work 20 h/week in an
external organization, which
enables them to
- develop working skills and
attitudes
- gain a small income
- make real contact with the
labour market

8. BIS Award
A personal development project
for disadvantaged youth. Over
the course of three years,
participants set their own goals
and improve their skills in the
fields of
- study
- sports
- volunteering

9. Brussels in Dialogue
An annual event in which people
of a wide variety of backgrounds
are brought together to get to
know one another and share
experiences, dreams and concrete
ideas relating to life in Brussels.

10. Roma Mediation Service
Foyer’s Roma Service coordinates
a team of mediators, most of
whom are of Roma origin. They
facilitate contact between Roma
families, schools, services and
institutions.

11. Case study: integration of Roma
migrants in Brussels

12. Thank you for your attention!

13. The Roma
mediators
Make contact with
families, gain trust, detect
needs & communicate to
coordinator, social worker
& researcher
Conflicting loyalties may
make it difficult to strike
the right balance
Realtively easy access to
Roma , also in very
precarious situations ->
"backbone" of Roma
service
The
researcher
Collect information on
demographics,
background and current
situation of families.
Report to coordinator
Reliance on estimates and
small samples
Can bring together data
from wide variety of
sources
The NGO
coordinator
Collect data, coach team,
bring together significant
local stakeholders (local
govt., social services,
police, ...)
Must gain credibility and
the trust of many
different actors &
persuade them to
collaborate
Politically, ideologically
and linguistically
independent, flexible

14. The trainers
Develop information and
training sessions for civil
servants, police officers and
other profesionals dealing
with Roma issues
Challenge of communicating
complex subject matter; may
face resistance/prejudiced
reactions
Well-placed to counter
misundertstandings
regarding Roma
The
communication
specialist
Together with mediator,
bring accurate and unbiased
information on the situation
in the media
Always be vigilant: avoid
misrepresentation and
confusion
Well-placed to counter
misunderstandings regarding
Roma
The
neighbourhood
workers
get to know the local
network, and, with help of
Roma mediator, refer
families to relevant services
& facilities
Challenge of keeping finger
on the pulse in complex and
fast-changing urban
environment
May pave the way for new
collaborations; often the first
to spot opportunities and
problems

15. The stakeholder
network
Develop coordinated approach;
ensure consistent
communication to Roma families
Many different approaches and
points of view to be considered
Concrete, effective action can be
taken thanks to consistent
approach
____________
Schools
Create welcoming environment for
children & parents; follow up on
attendance
Concern over education standards,
reluctance to take on children with
multi-problematic background
Often the first and most obvious contact
point between families and "mainstream
society" -> integration opportunities
____________