“Cumbersome bureaucracy, inadequate Italian courses, lack of recognition of qualifications, difficult access to scholarships at universities, insurmountable obstacles to renting a house. Every day we see the limits and problems of the welcoming in Italy on the skin of the refugees we follow’. Telling from the inside the concrete and harmful problems that hinder […]Telling from the inside the concrete and damaging problems that hinder the socio-economic integration of refugees and asylum seekers are Susanna Azzaro, coordinator of NOVE’s social inclusion programme in Italy, and Gabriella Melli, head of the work and training area of the projects Oltre l’Accoglienza (Beyond the Welcome) and Prossimi Cittadini (Future Citizens). From their observation, another serious shortcoming is the too limited – not to say absent – involvement of local civil society, which would instead be decisive for mutual understanding – breaking down prejudices and stereotypes – and in practical terms for fostering the inclusion of refugees, a potential factor of economic, cultural and human growth for Italy.

“Many Afghan female refugees are highly qualified but, if and when they manage to find employment, they are forced into jobs that do not match their skills, are precarious and often underpaid” says Livia Maurizi, Head of Programmes at NOVE. This is the case of a surgeon who, despite years of experience in Afghanistan, is unable to obtain a licence to practice in Italy due to the non-recognition of her qualifications.

Solving such problems should be a priority in a country that desperately needs medical personnel. “In addition to the human aspect, these obstacles cause a huge loss of value for Italy, which could instead benefit from the high-level professionalism of Afghan refugee women and men, improving sectors such as health, education and technology,” Maurizi emphasises.

There is so much to be done and this is why NOVE, part of a network of NGOs and other Third Sector associations, is at the forefront in supporting migrants and protecting their rights with ad hoc interventions, such as language courses and vocational training aimed at job placement. As part of the project Prossimi Cittadini (Future Citizens), activities are carried out in cooperation with the Italian Council for Refugees (CIR), the Caritas Foundation of Trieste and the Lybra Onlus Cooperative, in the provinces of Trieste and Rome.

“Continuous efforts are needed to improve accessibility to services, fight discrimination and promote gender equality. Only in this way can Italy become a truly inclusive country‘, concludes NOVE’s Head of Programmes.