ESIRAS Slovenia Project

The project

Between January 2018 and 31 August 2019, the Slovenian Red Cross implemented ESIRAS Slovenia Project – Employability and Social Integration of Refugees and Asylum Seekers. The aim of the project was to improve the employability and facilitate social integration of asylum seekers and persons with refugee status.

Within the project, beneficiaries took part in skill-gaining workshops such as training in basic communication, acquiring a driving license, basic numeracy skills, new technologies workshops, CV writing and preparation for job interviews. Trained volunteers offered beneficiaries support with learning, practicing skills obtained through courses, writing resumes, finding job openings and helped in everyday situations. The project also focused on strengthening basic computer skills of the beneficiaries by offering them the access to computers, where they could search for information regarding employment options or employers and write job offers with the help from assistants. Additionally, with the help from interpreters and volunteers, cultural/professional mediation was provided to facilitate participation at vocational trainings, communication with employers, first day at work, etc.

With the help from a projects’ contractual partner Legal-Informational Centre for NGOs (PiC) free legal counselling was offered alongside with courses on legal framework related to employment or social integration conditions of beneficiaries. The ESIRAS team also provided access to other services offered by Slovenian Red Cross, for example Restoring Family Links Office. 

The impact of the good practice

In more than one way the project aims to bridge the gap of social and cultural understanding on both sides between beneficiaries and employers. The activities offered were reinforcing participants’ basic, transversal and professional skills, giving them a selective advantage with respect to accessing and finding employment. Through engagement/intermediation with potential employers, the ESIRAS beneficiaries would increase their opportunities to finding employment. With cooperation and networking with other local associations, beneficiaries were provided with additional support in social integration in their local environment (e.g. learning assistance, children ‘s play, two-way exchange of knowledge / skills / experience, advice on local customs etc.).