Monday 20 December 2010

Why Europe have to help Refugee to Settle

In September 2010 our Chair and the Coordinator of General Secretary of the organisation and key people for the “Needs on Resettlement and Integration of Refugees in Europe“as been refused the visa for entry in Spain for no reason and the reason behind this refusal was only because they are “CONGOLESE” citizens

Our Chair and the Coordinator of General Secretary have both the Indefinite leave to remain (often known as ILR) is permission to stay permanently (settle) in the United Kingdom, free from immigration control , therefore they don’t need to stay in Spain longer than the time requested

 

 

 There both working in the organisation and fulltime student in the UK, why this discrimination against refugee in Europe in this modern age , living in the first English speaking country , the Spanish embassy send a letter in Spanish which until now we cannot understand the content of the letter , is a form of discrimination


Thursday 16 December 2010

Sesiones con el grupo de trabajo de Monterroso - Sessions with the working group of Monterroso

En los últimos días hemos realizado 3 sesiones con el grupo de trabajo del proyecto “need of resetlements of refugees in Europe”.

El día 25 de noviembre, dirigidos por Dª Elvira Fernández, realizamos una actividad de grupo en la que los alumnos relataron algunos sucesos importantes, positivos y negativos, que han tenido que afrontar durante su vida en los que tuvieron que utilizar recursos psicológicos con los que continuar adelante. Estos ejemplos sirvieron para explicar la aceptación de los típicos problemas de los inmigrantes al llegar a un país extranjero.



Los días 2 y 10 de diciembre, el psicólogo D. Rubén Martínez, comenzó el Programa de Intervención Psicológica en el Proyecto Grundtvig “need of resettlement of refugees in Europe”, que ha elaborado para nuestro grupo de trabajo.

En la primera sesión, se plantearon los conceptos de: nación, cultura, identidad, religión, arte y gastronomía. Los alumnos expresaron lo que entienden por estos conceptos y, a continuación, se habló de las diferentes interpretaciones de estos conceptos en sus países de origen.

En la segunda sesión, se plantearon las siguientes cuestiones: lengua, política, tradición, norma social, interculturalidad, respeto y tolerancia social, buscando una definición común. Se resaltan los conceptos de interculturalidad, respeto y tolerancia social. En pequeños grupos, los alumnos escriben una pequeña explicación de cada uno de los términos tratados.




During the last days we have realized 3 sessions with the working group of our Grundtvig Project "need of resettlement of Refugees in Europe."

On 25 November, led by Mrs Elvira Fernández, we realized a group activity in which our students reported some significant events, positive and negative, that they had to face during their life and they had to use psychological resources to go ahead.

These examples served to explain the acceptance of the typical problems of immigrants upon arrival in a foreign country.

On 2nd and 10th December, the psychologist Mr. Rubén Martinez began the Psychological Intervention Program in the Grundtvig project "needs of resettlement of Refugees in Europe", designed for our working group.



In the first session, we raised the concepts of nation, culture, identity, religion, art and cuisine. The students expressed their understanding of these concepts and then talked about the different interpretations of these concepts in their countries of origin.

In the second session, we raised the following issues: language, politics, tradition, social norms, cultural differences, respect and social tolerance, seeking a common definition. We highlighted the concepts of multiculturalism, respect and social tolerance. In small groups, the students wrote a brief explanation of all the issues discussed.

Wednesday 27 October 2010

Partnership Evaluation Report

T.C.

                                                  SÖĞÜT KAYMAKAMLIĞI

                                                Halk Eğitim Merkezi Müdürlüğü



Partnership Evoluation Report
Organization Name  :  Sogut Halk Egitim Merkezi Mudurlugu
Partnership Reference : 2009 – 1 – GB2 – GRU06 – 01457 3
Partnership Name : Needs on Resettlement and Integration of Refugees in Europe
Project Manager : Ibrahim CELIK
Project Contact Person : Osman AKARSU
Preparation Date : 25.10.2010

1.Summary :

Our partnership involves three organizations from UK,Spain and Turkey, which want to work on the issue refugees and their integration.As a partner,first of all organization from UK Discovery of Talents are related to this issue and they are really doing some great activities about refugees,and also other partner organizations from Spain are directly related to the issue `refugee` but in our organization we supply some adult education about various areas, but we don’t have any refugee or refugee backgrounded people in our region but we are conform with the project in terms of education.My organization SogutHEM have stuff and and they need some training about subject,and help our partner institution to compose a `curriculum` or training programme for everyone who work with refugees at the end of the scheduled time.The partners will work together to compose an information pack for anyone who wants to work with refugees.
            Sogut Halk Egitim Merkezi (SogutHEM) is investigating about the subject in terms of academically and also try to contact with local authorities which will have some relationship  about refugees in Turkey and also all around the Europe.In the first meeting which were hold in Birmingham,United Kingdom.We have identified the needs of refugees and have work to promote opportunities for those people who need urgent help.
            However,there are some problems communicating with other partners sometimes,which is an unfounded debate because in our institution we have only one person who can speak English fluently and he had enlisted to his military service and also he spent all of his personal,leisure and leftover time to this project for not giving a word about project to other institutions. But unfortunately DoT organization wrote in their so-called report;
``There are some problems communicating with the Turkish partner,which should be resolved in the near future.However if this continues to be a problem,it may have a negative impact on the whole Partnership``.
In Turkey enlisting in the army is a `must` not `arbitrary` and he did whatever he does. This kind of approaches won`t give any chance to share experiences and it is against the soul of our project.
a.)Parnership Activities ;
In the organization SogutHEM we made a meeting after our project were accepted,our contact person gave a informatory meeting and the meetings are open to the public and more than 20 people joined,most of them are from government,city council and teachers.We organized a group and an agenda about project most of them are history researcher,history and geography lecturer of Bilecik University some teachers,consultants and the group worked on the subject. In the light of the project`s overall concrete objectives the group prepared a booklet.We scattered booklets in the first meeting in Birmingham.The first partnership meeting was held in the UK between the dates 16-19 November 2009.It was a nice meeting beside some deficiency in organization.This is the first time we have ever see each other,and mutual communication,that’s why we confront such deficiencies.On the very first day of the meeting each partner organization presented their institutions,how they work,and the system of the three target country then we split up the tasks about the issue. Other partner instutions shared their experiences.When we learnt what they need,it is an easy way to look other perspectives of this problem. As we talked before,SogutHEM has no direct experience with this issue,we recorded the meeting and chain as many as we can. In the next steps we were going to carry out a training and educational model to understand the social needs for integration of refugees and immigrants during this project.We would concentrate on cross integration, ethnicity, identities, gender differences and change, expectations and barriers they are facing and mutual understanding of problems.
All partners were given a speech and share the best practices on training opportunities for staff,in that moment the delegations from Turkey,three of whom are teachers and one district government and one district director of national education were shared their opinion and the contact person translated them simultaneously and we compared the system of the target countries.As most of the delegation from Turkey are teachers we look the case as an educational model and we express refugee adults have some learning difficulties,their schooling has interrupted most of time and their English may be a barrier to get into a better and appropriate education,and also evaluation method.SogutHEM expressed developing their skills,capacities and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as independent and responsible individuals.This will help them to advance eduation,providing recreational activitiy,and social walfare.In the first meeting we decided to prepare a web-sites and our partner organization would share the information via mail and the DoT organization would manage the web-sites.SogutHEM gave a copies of booklet to other institutions after Powerpoint presentation.This presentation also shared with the group in Turkey.At the end of the meeting all partner instutions were given signed certificates of attendance.

It was a indisputable truth that nearly all participants don’t have sufficient knowledge of EU law in terms of immigration.SogutHEM organization suggested other participants to investigate the legal rights of asylum seekers from the university`s law department about how to integrate and resettlement in the target country.When we turn back from Turkey we organized a meeting with the institution of court about EU laws and the implementation in our country.We took some photographs while talking about the issue,and accidentally we learnt that the penitentiary in Bilecik, is the one which all asylum seekers and immigrant stayed here in Turkey,and it is unique.What a chance we said.


b.)Project management and partnership;
Background of the partners ; As we talked before the Turkish partner has no direct experience with the issue as we are based in a rural area of Turkey,we haven’t suffered from a problem with the integration of refugees,but the things are going to change and in terms of our country`s Eu membership may be one day we may suffer such problems,but in southeastern of our country we also suffered many years for this refugee problems.There are refugees from Iraq ,Iran and also from Afghanistan.Turkish  government has always behave humanistically to refugee for years.
            Cooperation and Communication ; The partners are cooperating well in general.In our organization we have some language problem the other person except contact person have limited English but this may not a problem for the whole communication between partners.We have Spanish partner and also they have some members who don’t know English fluently but we can easily communicate with them.

            Selection of Learners ; As we said in our report before we don’t have people from refugee background but we are teachers and want to learn the process they meet while educating these people and also we want to benefit from the experience of UK and Spanish partners.Our learners are various but most of them are young people and some adults and they are the future of our country and we shared what we learned from the issue with them.We make some meetings regularly,and do some feedbacks.

            Language and Cultural Preparation ;  The official language of the partnership is English,but in Turkish delegation we have some language barrier.SogutHEM prepared a language course for all applicant of this project  and we gave their certificate before our mobilities.They are very happy to be a part of this education.

            Results ; In the first year as partners we decided to gather information for individual country reports,make some comparing between the countries as a system , how to integrate, or resettle and at the end of the project we will share our production to community as a full report.

c.) Dissemination Activities
            In the lights of the first meeting we gathered information and some brochures from partner institution and we shared them with our own country locally we prepared some meeting and shared them as many people as we reach.We also publish the  DVD and a brochure.We publish these information in our institutions web sites and we shared this in the project evalution meeting which was held in Ankara,between the dates  03-04 June 2010.
            At the end of the project meetings we will also publish DVD and a brochure again.It will be the mirror of our project globally.It will be like a final report and will include interviews,photos and summaries of the meetings.Three contact persons of the project will meet in the UK,London again on May 2011 and will publish these productions of the project in the name of all three partner institutions.SogutHEM also try to publish an article in a local newspaper and we will give a meeting to government worker,civil servant and manager of the region.We try to give a word to the penitentiary  manager of Bilecik and some lawyers and public prosecutor in the third meeting in Turkey.

d.)Evaluation Activities
            In our organization evaluation is informal but it is a key factor for successful progression of the project.By evaluating the process we had a chance to check to achieve the anticipated results of the project,and it is very important.For example DoT organization made us a questionnaire about welcome and registration,the quality of the event,local transport,food,cooperation and organization.The results were shared with the partners.A similar evaluation activity is planned for learners after following visit to Spain and Turkey.Blog and mails are used for counter check,and are used for how to make improvements for the next meetings and  the way the project is going.

e.)Impact of the Partnership ;

            The partnership give us a perfect experience about the issue and we get a chance to analyse the overall objectives of the project.This is the first time we have ever be a part of such project and we learnt many new concept,we try to investigate their economic,social and cultural needs.Because we know when we know what the sufferer need,it is an easy to help them and may be we guide them to find their way in the target country`s system.

f.)Project grant and mobilities ;

            As a Turkish Partner the mobilities which are planned to take place and took place as following date ;
16-19 November 2009 – Birmingham,UK ; 2 Staff and 3 learners
28-30 September 2010 – Lugo,Spain ; 2 staff and 5 learners
March 2011 – Sogut,Bilecik,Turkey
May 2011 –Birmingham,UK .
As you may easily see the Turkish partner will finish their mobility after the second meeting but we will also join any other meeting which will be held in Birmingham,UK for staff,in order to finalise the project and work on the final report May 2011.
We are an adult education center and that’s why our learners are some adult people and some of them are also teachers.We will visit 7 person to Lugo - Spain.  










2.Action Points

a)      SOGUTHEM TURKEY
Details
Action
Completion Date
Evaluation
Sending the evaluation report to the coordinator
Next Partnership Meeting
Results
Discuss the production of the report and training curriculum with partners,ensuring that all partners are clear on the best product
Next Partnership Meeting
Project Management & Dissemination
Complete and send country report to N A and DoT UK,and SPAIN
Meeting with project participator & teachers,teacher trainers
5 September 2010
After Next Partnership meeting



                                                                              

                                                                                  İbrahim ÇELİK
                                                                    Halk Eğitim Merkezi Müdürü

Wednesday 20 October 2010

resumen de la reunión en España - meeting in Spain

Resumén de la reunión en España. 28, 29 y 30 de septiembre de 2010
El primer día de reunión lo dedicamos a visitar la histórica ciudad de Lugo y sus monumentos, desde su muralla romana, la catedral o su museo. Pudimos disfrutar de una cena con productos típicos de la ciudad lucense.

Summary of the Meeting in Spain. 28, 29 and 30 September 2010
The first day of the meeting was devoted to visit the historical city of Lugo and its monuments, like the Roman walls, the cathedral and the museum. We also enjoyed a dinner based on the typical products of the city of Lugo.











































Al día siguiente, nos desplazamos a Monterroso, para visitar, en primer lugar, el Centro Penitenciario. Guiados por su director, D. Víctor Fraga, pudimos recorrer sus instalaciones y conocer el día a día en el Centro.

Firstly, the next day, we moved to Monterroso to visit the prison. Led by the prison's director, Mr. Victor Fraga, we could visit the facilities at the centre and the daily life there.




Posteriormente, nos desplazamos a la localidad de Monterroso, donde tuvo lugar la recepción oficial a cargo de su Alcalde, D. Antonio Gato, quien reunió a la Banda Municipal de Música quines interpretaron algunos temas regionales en honor de nuestro grupo.

Secondly, we moved to the village of Monterroso, which hosted the official reception by the Mayor, Mr. Antonio Gato. The Mayor had called the Municipal Band so that they could play some regional music in honor of our group.















Tras la visita a Monterroso, volvimos al Centro para reunirnos con el Grupo de Trabajo del Centro de Adultos de Monterroso y compartir impresiones y experiencias de cada institución.

After visiting Monterroso, we returned to the Penitenctiary Centre in order to meet the Working Group of the Center for Adults and share impressions and experiences with the other institutions.




Después del almuerzo, volvimos a Lugo donde los representantes de las diferentes instituciones se reunieron para debatir sobre el transcurso del proyecto y las posteriores reuniones, así como para planificar las actividades que se realizarán.

After lunch, we went back to Lugo, where the representatives of the different institutions met to discuss about the course of the project and about the subsequent meetings, as well as to plan the activities to be performed.




El tercer día viajamos a la ciudad de A Coruña, donde tienen la sede nuestros asociados del proyecto, la ONG Equus Zebra, quienes nos mostraron sus instalaciones, sus actividades y nos guiaron, posteriormente, a visitar su ciudad, una de las ciudades costeras más bellas de la geografía española, poniendo fin a nuestra reunión con el viaje a Lugo, donde nos despedimos, deseando la mejor de la suerte hasta la próxima reunión que se celebrará en Marzo, en Turquía.
Finalmente, queremos agradecer a todas las instituciones y personas que hicieron posible el éxito de esta reunión.

On the third day we travelled to the city of A Coruña, where our project partners, the NGO Equus Zebra, work. They showed us their facilities, the activities they are involved in and then, they guided us to visit their city, one of the most beautiful coastal cities in Spain.
Our trip ended with a meeting in Lugo, where we said goodbye, wishing the best of luck to the next meeting to be held in March in Turkey.
Finally, we would like to thank all the institutions and people who made the success of this meeting possible.






Friday 17 September 2010

Agenda of the meeting in Spain

28-09-2010

17’00h: Welcome in the respective hotels of the partners and visit to the historical city of Lugo, ancient Roman city with his walls, World Heritage from the Unesco.

20’30h-21’00h: Welcome Dinner. Explanations about all the organization of the Agenda.




29-09-2010

08’00h Leave the respective hotels and travel to Monterroso

09’00h Visit to the Penitentiary Centre of Monterroso

11’00h. Official reception in the City Hall of Monterroso.

12’00h. Coffe break and return to the Prison of Monterroso.

12’30h. Meeting with the work group of Monterroso

14’00h. Launch in the nearest Village of Guntin.

17’00h. Leaving to Lugo.

18’00h. Meeting of the partners about the project, next meetings, etc.

20’30h. Dinner.




30-09-2010

09’30h. Leave the respective hotels to the city of Coruña.

11’00h. Visit and meeting to the NGO Equus Zebra, associated of our project.

12’00h. Visit to the city of Coruña, one of the most beautiful cities of the coast of Galicia.

14’30h. Launch

16’30h. Travel to Lugo and Good Bye. (If the partners travel from Coruña to Madrid or London, perhaps could be good for them don’t return to Lugo. Free decision for partners)



Note: Galicia is a raining place. We never know when it will be raining. So, you must bring some clothes for rain. I wish they don’t be necessary but…

Friday 3 September 2010

Presentation of Equus Zebra´s activities in Grundtvig

Last 30th of July the first meeting was held with students that shape the Grundtvig Project: Needs on Resettlement and Integration of Refugees in Europe. In this meeting, the participants of the project were informed of the goals and characteristics of the Project. The group mainly consists of young boys who all know each other as a result of the various activities put together by Equus Zebra.Two are the main activities that comprise the. On one hand, it aims to prepare a group of students to obtain the Secondary Education knowledge and certificate. “Educación Secundaria Obligatoria (ESO)” is the governing system of secondary education in Spain. Our goal is for the group to approve the exams so that they get the certificate, these exams will be held in June and October 2011. The classes itself will begin early September. However, there have been little cultural-educational activities with students.
So far, the group has visited several places of interests all around the city of A Coruña, among those, we can count the Finisterrae Aquarium, An interactive center for the spreading of popular science of issues related to marine biology, oceanography and sea in general, a center that not only aims to teach about a positive and humanist attitude towards the sea environment, but also strives to entertain those who are interested in the vast sea reign.They have also visited the old town of the city of A Coruña, the "As Fragas do Eume" National Natural Park, a unique ecosystem in Europe, Cabanas’ beach in A Coruña.


The group during the Old Town visit in the center of A Coruña.

In "As Fragas do Eume" NationalNatural Park.

At Cabana´s beach


On the other side of the spectrum, we find the student that receive Driving Lessons (theory classes only) so that they get a chance at getting the B license (the one that authorizes them to drive vehicles up to a total weight of 3.500 Kg). These classes started early July, consisting of a 3 hour class once per week.


Snapshot taken during driving lessons.