Armenian Caritas

Sustainable Reintegration after voluntary return

Start: 2006-2011

Background:

Migration from Armenia is a widespread phenomenon. The figures available indicate that at least 35% of the population has migrated from Armenia in the last ten years. The main reasons for migration are unemployment, hard socio-economic and living conditions in the country, the absence of any perspective for the future. Hundreds of thousands people left the country expecting to find jobs, relatively better living conditions and social protection in foreign countries In European Union countries and especially in Belgium more and more attention is being focused on the concept of voluntary return.

In Belgium, Caritas International has been assisting people with voluntary return since 1984. The cooperation between Caritas International and Caritas Armenia on the field of voluntary return has started from April 2006. The assistance that the Project offers is not limited and depends on the nature of the needs of every individual returnee. The necessity and priority of this assistance for every case are assessed after social consultancy and reciprocal agreement with the returnee.

Goal:

Improve the chances on a successful reintegration of the migrants returned from Belgium.

Objectives:

• To develop a relationship based on trust with people who return, providing information and assistance,
• To assist people after their return for six months and even longer if necessary,
• To provide people who return with practical possibilities for reintegration and by offering housing, courses, help in finding a school, a job, medical help, information, mediation with the authorities

Activities:

• Contact and meet returnees from Belgium in Armenia,
• Provide social consultancy and assess their needs,
• Assist returnees in their housing problems,
• Provide medical, social, psychological and legal assistance,
• Provide opportunities for vocational trainings,
• Provide opportunities for professional reorientation trainings,
• Assist the returnees in their search for the jobs, assist children in their trainings.

Beneficiaries:

The direct beneficiaries of the Project are the returnees from the Belgium.

In 2006 16 cases(32 persons) have benefited from the project.
In 2007 16 cases(27 persons) have benefited from the project.

Partners:Belgian Ministry of Social Integration through FEDASIL and Caritas International in Belgium.

Project manager: Tigranuhi Tarakhchyan