Home away from Home: Research Report

The Home away from Home ERASMUS+ project has been developed within a context of increasing levels of migration in Europe. Some of this migration is occurring into areas with a long experience of migration, whereas in other areas it is a new phenomenon. Though this tends to mean that there are different perspectives on the issue in different contexts, generally speaking migration is the subject of debate and political and social concern across the European Union. Nevertheless, there is considerably lack of knowledge and awareness about the topic. As the Special Eurobarometer report showed in 2018 (Survey 469 related to the integration of immigrants)1 , most European citizens are not aware of the actual facts and figures on migration, with only 37% being well informed about immigration and integration. At the same time, according to this report, negative perceptions of the impact immigrants have on society are more likely amongst those who do not feel well informed about immigration and integration issues and also amongst those who have little interaction with immigrants (p.82). This is the context, in which the Home away from Home project was designed with the aim of supporting the integration of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. Though the construct of integration is a contested one, for Home away from Home it relates to the successful co-existence of two or more cultures within one society, which requires change and re-education for all in order to address negative attitudes towards increasing diversity, rather than responsibility for integration residing completely in the migrant communities, which suggests a more assimilationist process. This necessity to consider carefully and critically the language and discourse that surrounds issues of migration is a thread, which has run throughout the project and will be seen in this report on the research undertaken as part of the project. However, the diversity of background experiences, histories, and languages brought together by this project has proven to be a rich source of learning and reflection, enhanced by the opportunities grasped to see the world through different sets of eyes.