By Stefania Neagoe | Mission Facilitator
12 Ukrainian refugees are currently hired in AFF, out of which 7 women and 5 men, aged between 16 to 55 years old, 9 being at risk persons with different vulnerabilities besides being war refugees (e.g., lack of education, single mother). Our insertion counselor provided them with consistent counselling sessions for their daily problems, for their integration in Romanian working and living conditions. The counselor ensures monthly counselling sessions and, whenever necessary, support for health issues (registration with a family doctor, medical emergencies, etc.), transportation issues and other daily challenges.
We have also ensured a Romanian language course, at our premises, starting with October 2022, for the major part of them (not speaking Romanian). The lack of communication (most of the refugees do not speak Romanian or other international languages) represents a major challenge for access to employment and social integration.
In August 2022, we have organized visits to an employer for several AFF employees, including one refugee, that was able to find our detailed information about labor conditions and requirements as well as to test – in ½ day of practice – how it is to work in a gas station kitchen. We continue to search for and present them job opportunities, in order for them to have a better understanding of labor market in Romania.
In 29th of November 2022, we have organized a legal training for 12 refugees, including AFF employees, and beneficiaries of an ONG partner, Fundatia Mladita, in order for them to have basic information about Romanian legal framework.
Christa Schweng, president of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) visited our workshops on November 10. Christa Schweng showed her support for the important role that AFF has by developing its projects for the integration of people from Ukraine and vulnerable people from Romania. The President of the EESC visited the educlick and remesh workshops within the AFF and talked to the refugees employed by AFF.
Your financial support has offered us the possibility to cover costs that our usual target group – vulnerable from Romania – does not need. Thus, we have been able to better serve the vulnerable displaced persons from Ukraine, mainly overcoming the language barrier by hiring a social counsellor speaker of Russian-Romanian-English. She is present on daily basis on the site, making a safer place for the Russian speakers to express themselves and during counselling sessions she helps them navigate the challenges of adapting to a new life. Moreover, we were happy to be able to cover partially the costs of her salary with your support, as she previously worked as a volunteer in the main train station in Bucharest for over four months.
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