DiverPass - 2019-2021

I. Scope

After the Covid crisis, the migration issue will be soon back on the European agenda as there is still a turmoil on an international level with the terrorism issue combined with civil wars in many countries on all continents and regions (Africa, Middle East, Latin America, Asia...) leading to the emigation of many people world wide. In addition national disasters linked to the climatic crisis is also explaining the emigation of many people all around the world. These are the "push factors".There are also other more positive reaons for leaving one's country (pull factors) such as finding a better work, following studies that are not offered on a national level or family gathering.

The DiverPass projet has the will to contribute to the European debate at the moment under discussion on the New Pact for Asylum and Migration suggested by the European Commission in September 2020 that states:

"Migration is a complex issue, with many facets that need to be weighed together. The safety of people who seek international protection or a better life, the concerns of countries at the EU’s external borders, which worry that migratory pressures will exceed their capacities and which need solidarity from others. Or the concerns of other EU Member States, which are concerned that, if procedures are not respected at the external borders, their own national systems for asylum, integration or return will not be able to cope in the event of large flows.

Based on a holistic assessment, the Commission is proposing a fresh start on migration: building
confidence through more effective procedures and striking a new balance between responsibility
and solidarity."

II. Objectives

Professionals have to take into account all the reasons explaining a migration together with the diverse profile of migrants ((age, gender, countries of origin, languages, levels of education, ...). On a European level, the integration of migrants in their transition in the labour market has been a main priority for political debate and policy initiatives in a growing number of EU member states. Professionals with a diverse profiles (professional path- social workers, educators, teachers ; status- paid staff/volunteers ; rural/urban territories…) are not well equipped to support migrants themselves also with a diverse profile to overcome the many obstacles they are faced to in the labour market. In particular they are faced to a variety of demands including linguistic, social, professional support but also and above all transversal competences.

The main barriers migrants are faced to are: a lack of recognition of their experience and of their knowledge, competence and skills. It leads to a process of deskilling that is highly demotivating. Most of the time, it is uneasy for them to be able to justify a relevant working experience in the host country as they work in the “black or grey " (undeclared) market. Mots of the time the work they do is irrelevant with their genuine qualification. Moreover, the acquisition of the host language is a main obstacle even more difficult with this lack of recognition of their previous knowledge or competence. A vicious circle is easily built that leads to social and professional exclusion.

The DiverPass aims at supporting professionals/educators to tackle the following issues: a lack of recognition of qualifications and professional competences of the migrant learners they are working with (reference: Key competences framework, EC, 2006 & 2018) ; a high diversity among migrants in terms of status (administrative diversity), education (levels of education), reasons for migrating (economic, political, family gathering, studies…) ; a high diversity as well in the skills and competences required for professionals especially as they are also diverse in terms of status (volunteers/paid staff) and qualifications (in social work, teaching & training, migration issues…) ; and a lack of relevant training and methodology to combine a formal learning- for instance to assess a linguistic level (Common European framework of reference for Language- CEFR, since 1991) with a non-formal & informal learning (based on a voluntary experience)

Overall the project contributes fulfilling the needs for educational policy and practice which address and value diversity in learning (formal and informal & non formal) and thereby promote a more tolerant and integrated society which understands and is enriched by the added value of such perspectives combining the Bologna process (formal learning) and the Copenhagen process (informal and non formal learning).

Top of page ↑

III. Results

The DiverPass project designs two Intellectual outputs :

1- a manual (mentoring) for trainers to apply properly this training among professionals with various profiles (paid staff and volunteers) to meet the special issues they are faced to by answering the expectations of public with various profiles ;

2- an ebook (a guidance) for anyone working with migrants in order to enhance a key competence approach taking into account the diversity approach with a focus on diversity and mobility , combining formal, non-formal and informal learning (Bologna process & Copenhagen process).

Top of page ↑

IV. Experimentation

The testing was divided between the French team according to the existing networks (Cité Saint Pierre & iriv for the Cité des Métiers) or new networks created for the DiverPass project (iriv)

The "migration" network of Caritas France to present the approach of the DiverPass project, and in particular an association in Paris, Le Cèdre, which carried out an action with its volunteers and migrant audiences so that they in turn become volunteers.

iriv has organized two phases of experimentation: a classic first with its existing network of the Cité des Métiers; an unexpected second in the North of France (Calais, Dunkerque, Grande Scynthe)

2.1- From January to March 2020, the iriv clubs at the Cité des Métiers were dedicated to the DiVerPass project, which provides support to professionals working in "diverse" (urban/rural) territories with "diverse" audiences. Because of COVID-19, the iriv clubs have been cancelled. The DiverPass project was experimented directly with an association:Programme AlphaB, remotely during virtual meetings (June & July 2020). The manual was thus enriched and presented in such a way as to be used simply by anyone wishing to accompany migrant audiences on the labour market.

2.2 in September 2021, the iriv decided to go to another territory (Hauts de France) with exceptional emergency conditions for professionals who must first take care of basic needs (food, housing, hygiene and care) but for which a longer-term social and professional integration can be a decisive argument for the public authorities (prefectures and local elected officials) for example, by providing decent reception centres for immigrant groups who have been rejected in France and Europe and who wish to go to the United Kingdom but who could also envisage a future in France (training for adults for

Top of page ↑

V. European networks

Top of page ↑

VI. French networks

1- in Lourdes with the network of partners of the Cité Saint Pierre (Cimade, Social Centers, CADA...). The team of employees, with volunteers and volunteers (civic service) plus all the partners of the Cité Saint Pierre who work with a migrant public

2- in Paris and in the North of France (Calais, Dunkerque, Grande Scynthe)

2.1- first testing carried out in Paris with the (2019-2020)

The experiment began in January 2020 at the monthly clubs of the iriv (January & February); a virtual club was proposed in June 2020 which has associated two associations- AlphaB Program which forms a network of volunteers throughout the territory and the GRDR (partner of the 1st circle at the Cité des Métiers)

2.2- second testing carried out by iriv in the North of France with a number of associations working urgently with migrant audiences who are not allowed to stay on French or European territory (September 2021)

3- during the organization of the webinar by the Cité Saint Pierre and the iriv, the iriv team contacted Mr. Sebastien Nadot, MP, Chair of a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry who very kindly agreed to participate in the webinar but also to contribute to our ebook by an article (part Recommendation). He also cited the Diverpass project in the foreword of his report delivered to the National Assembly on November 10, 2021- https://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/dyn/15/rapports/cemigrants/l15b4665_rapport-enquete#

Top of page ↑