The third teacher training event of this project took place in Naples Italy from 19th to 25th November. The primary purpose of this event was to try out some of the teaching techniques proposed from the previous meetings and to continue our engagement with refugees and the organisations who work with them. To this end each partner country presented one sample class where the use of visual aids or activities supplemented the learning material with a view to moving the classroom emphasis away from just verbal delivery. The language barrier is a significant challenge to learning for many refugees and any learning activity that can assist them in better understanding the verbal delivery is to be welcomed. The group also met with foreign students studying at ITT Giordani-Striano school and had an opportunity to discuss the difficulties they experienced in attending classes in a foreign language.
During a day long visit to LESS: impresa sociale Onlus, the group had an opportunity to hear about the work of his non governmental organisation and to meet refugees staying is the LEES house. These refugees who come from a variety of countries including Gambia and Sierra Leone spoke about their need to send money home to their families and the conflict between the need to earn money now and the need to educate themselves for the future. The explained that often families in Africa have a concept of Europe that is not accurate and do not always understand that it is necessary to get a good education in order to gain employment. One of the refugees at the centre gave a short musical performance and spoke of his wish to be a professional entertainer. Another expressed his wish to be a plumber. Lunch for the group at the centre was prepared by refugees cooperative institution (Catering Tobilì)
Another visit was organised to ”Dedalus” (Cooperativa sociale) who work with refugees, particularly unaccompanied minors, women who arte the victims of violence and also women who want to escape from their condition of prostitutionwhich in many cases is the result of human trafficking. Their methodology includes facilitating peoples access to local services and opportunities, enhances awareness, information and cultural advancements among citizens allowing for the maintenance of immigrants’ culture and ties to their place of origin. They have individual programs specifically tailored to individual needs and requiring the activation of beneficiaries, individualised programs aimed at facilitating peoples exit from conditions of difficulty to their full inclusion in the relational and social environment. In the case of refugees who are minors Dedalus provide cultural mediation, reception, encounter and citizenship opportunities, assistance and support to minors in their migratory project. This work includes the running of a Day Centre, Residential Care facilities, facilities for those just over the age of majority and Emergency hosting for minors. For victims of Trafficking they provide actions for the detection, identification and referral to services for victims. Further to this they promote interculturality through their intercultural centre, an intercultural library, organisation of intercultural workshops and events.
The group also visited a hosting-house for Roma people, meeting and talking to both volunteers, teachers and Roma students on the challenges of cultural integration and the barriers within both communities to integration.
In the City Hall of Naples the group had an opportunity to meet with the Council Member of Social Politics Dr. Roberta Gaeta, who spoke about Neapolitan efforts to welcome and integrate Refugees both into the educational system and into the Labour market.