How refugees can boost village life

What goal is BFH pursuing with its research project on the inclusion of refugees?

In the canton of Bern, collective accommodation for refugees is often “out in the sticks”, far from an urban area, therefore refugees have little contacts with the locals. This research project aims to bring village communities and refugees together to promote mutual understanding.

Refugees should be given the opportunity to participate in cultural activities and contribute their talents to village life, considering many have interesting skills up their sleeve. In the course of the project, the researchers got to know a painter, an IT specialist and an agricultural project manager.

How did the researchers proceed?

The researchers held initial workshops to initiate a participatory process with the villagers and the refugees. They visited the collective accommodation centre in Enggistein, near Worb (BE), and talked with the people living there, enquiring about their talents and interests. In a subsequent workshop, the researchers contacted the village associations to find out what their interests were and whether there were any opportunities to involve refugees.

What was the outcome of the workshops?

The researchers were pleased to note that both sides were ready to consider a form of collaboration. For instance, refugees were able to show off their cooking skills at an association’s summer party, conjuring up delicious dishes from all over the world. This example shows that it doesn’t take much to bring refugees and the local population together.

What are the main challenges you had to overcome?

The biggest challenge for the researchers was to gain access to the refugees. The organisations that manage collective accommodation have limited time and financial resources. To get involved in a research project means extra work for them, and often it’s just not possible.

Another difficulty was the language barrier. The refugees come from many different countries and linguistic areas and, despite the presence of interpreters, it was not possible to communicate with all the people on site. Fortunately, some of the refugees speak several languages and were able to help the researchers.

What are benefits of the study to society?

When refugees and locals have the opportunity to meet, they gain an insight into each other’s lives. The hurdles that stand in the way become smaller and vanish completely. When both sides meet regularly, the refugees’ status no longer plays a role. The focus is on people, their interests and their abilities.

The inclusion of refugees can help strengthen the village community and associative life. By taking part, the refugees can make good use of their “waiting time” and be active. This can improve their mental wellbeing. Such relationships contribute to a caring society, it’s a form of mutual care.

What will happen after the study?

The researchers are preparing a follow-up project to develop opportunities for the participation of refugees on a broader scale. They want to extend this to other villages and towns. The aim is to develop a sort of toolbox for communities that builds on their experiences and makes it easier for them to integrate refugees into their cultural and social life.