Past Projects

The People for Change Foundation has completed a number of projects over the past years in the areas of human rights, migration, and trafficking. To learn more about our projects, read the descriptions below or contact us at [email protected].

Evaluation of "Learning - Exchanging - Integrating"

Start Date: 1 June 2023
Duration: 3 months

About this project

This project undertook an evaluation of the "Learning - Exchanging - Integrating" project by the Human Rights Directorate. The LEI project was carried out by the directorate between 2018 and 2022 and targeted the integration of migrants in Malta through four different project activities: I Belong Programme, Turning the Tables, Migrant Integration Information Sessions, and Diploma in Education for Cultural Mediation.

The People for Change Foundation’s role

PfC carried out the evaluation of the whole project, using qualitative and quantitative methods including interviews, focus groups, and surveys. On the basis of this, PfC wrote a report evaluating the project as well as suggesting recommendations for future projects.

Upholding Migrants Rights in the Fight Against COVID-19

Start Date: 20 July 2020
Duration: 8 Months

About this project

This project seeked to contribute to upholding migrants’ rights in the fight against COVID-19. It does so through mapping the ways COVID-19 has impacted migrants in Malta, identifying promising practices and developing, through consultation with migrant community organisations and NGOs, a series of guiding principles towards ensuring the response to COVID-19 into 2021 and beyond respects the rights of migrants, refugees, and trafficked persons.

The main output of the project was a set of principles that NGOs, migrant community organisations, and the public can use to promote a better response to COVID-19 that respects the rights of migrants and refugees.

Additional outputs include:

A report providing the findings of the research
A compendium of promising practices
A new page on the Malta Human Rights Library collecting resources and information on COVID-19 in Malta

This project supplemented other work that The People for Change Foundation has done about the human rights impacts of the response to COVID-19 including for the European Union Agency for Fundamental Righ ts.

This project was funded by Alumni Rapid Response Fund of the US Department of State through the Embassy of the United States in Malta.

Migrant & Youth Social Inclusion Through Entrepreneurship

Start Date: 02 April 2018
Duration: 18 months
Project Funder: Erasmus+ (National Agency – Malta)
Lead Partner: The People for Change Foundation (Malta)
Project Partners: Aequitas (Cyprus), Allileggie Solidaritynow (Greece) Asociacion Socio Educativa Llere (Spain), Ce.S.F.Or. Centro Studi Formazione Orientamento (Italy).

About this project

This project addressed entrepreneurship as a tool towards integration. The target group was Third Country National and local young people interested in entrepreneurship.

The objectives of the project were:

To compile research on the needs of young entrepreneurs and on the resources available in each participating country
To promote youth entrepreneurship as a means of employment and financial independence
To promote the social inclusion of TCN youth in five different countries

The project involved research, training, and mentorship. The research component provided a snapshot of the opportunities for entrepreneurship for both groups in the five participating countries. National reports were drawn up for each country and a comparative report analysed developments and opportunities at the European level as well as providing a comparative analysis of the participating countries.

The training component catered for both TCNs and local youth and was developed on the basis of the research findings and delivered across the participating countries as well as online. The training covered a range of topics including the modalities and frameworks for setting up a business, accessing finance, and management. The mentorship components of the project involved pairing the participants with a relevant mentor (established entrepreneur in the field of their choice).

Our project was unique in that it encouraged TCN youths and local youths in five different countries to explore the opportunity of entrepreneurship together. Besides promoting entrepreneurship as a means of financial independence for young people it also supported the integration and social inclusion of TCNs in the participating countries.

The People for Change Foundation’s role

PfC was the lead partner of this project responsible for the overall direction and management of the project. We were responsible for the research stream of the project including the drawing up of the research methodology for the national research and the drafting of the comparative reports. Moreover, PfC was implementing the project activities in Malta.

The People for Change Foundation wishes to thank MEUSEC - the Malta EU Steering and Action Committee for their support in the development of the project proposal.

You can find out more about this project here.

Support and Advice Through Health System for Hate Crimes Victims (SHELTER)

Start Date: December 2018
Duration: 24 months
Project Funder: Rights, Equality and Citizenship Programme, European Commission
Lead Partner: University of Castilla-la Mancha (Spain)
Project Partners: Asociación Socio Educativa Llere (Spain), Szubjektív Értékek Alapítvány and Nemzeti Kozszolgalati Egyetem (Hungary), Aequitas and the University of Cyprus (Cyprus) and The People for Change Foundation (Malta).

About the project

This project aimed to improve the protection for victims of hate crime and their access to health services. It's objectives were:

To tackle the under-reporting of hate crime and lack of data in the health system in relation to hate crimes
To strengthen the medical and psycho-social care provided to victims of hate crime by healthcare services
To facilitate the access to assistance, protection, and specialised support services for victims of hate crime
To incorporate national health institutions into the support structures for victims of hate crime.

The project activities included:

Research about hate crime victims, their access to healthcare services and the awareness of healthcare professionals of hate crime issues
Capacity building for professionals and students in the health sector
Development of tools and draft protocols for detecting and assisting victims of hate crime for the health sector
Awareness raising activities
The establishment of an International Network of Healthcare Workers focusing on identifying and assisting hate crime victims

The People for Change Foundation’s role

The People for Change Foundation was responsible for the implementation of the project activities in Malta. We worked closely with the relevant stakeholders. This project built on PfC’s extensive work in the field of hate crime and hate speech including the online reporting platform www.ReportRacism-Malta.org, and previous projects including the ‘Tackling Hate Crime and Hate Speech Project’ and the CONTACT Project.

You can find out more about this project here.

BINIs - Best practices In tackling trafficking NIgerian Route

Implementation Start: January 2018
Project Funder: Asylum Migration and Integration Fund (European Commission – DG Migration and Home Affairs)
Lead Partner: Cooperazione Internazionale Sud Sud (Italy)
Project Partners: Dortmunder Mitternachtsmission E.V. (Germany); The People for Change Foundation (Malta); Herzwerk (Austria); CRESM – Centro di Ricerche Economiche e Sociali per il Meridione (Italy); MPDL – Movimiento por la Paz (Spain), International Organisation for Migration.

About this project

The project supports the exchange of good practices between practitioners and organizations working on the identification, support, protection and integration of trafficked persons. The project is carried out in Austria, Finland, Germany, Italy, Malta and Spain.

Aims and Objectives

To enhance the skills and capacities of governmental and non-governmental actors to fight and prevent human trafficking (with a focus on Nigerian women and girls)
To spread innovative practices of long-term sustainable integration of trafficked persons
To increase cooperation between European and Nigerian civil society organisations involved in migration and anti-trafficking programs.
To raise awareness of the risks of human trafficking in the participating countries.

The project focuses on the circumstances and the needs of four vulnerable groups:

persons trafficked to the partner countries;
persons trafficked through partner countries to other destinations,
persons who are trafficked within the partner countries
persons who are trafficked on the way to the partner countries.

The project involves two main components: research and capacity building with key stakeholders. The research will be carried out across the six participating countries and it will produce 6 National reports and 1 Comparative report, which will be disseminated through roundtables across the participating countries.

A practical guide, an e-learning training programme and an information toolkit will also be produced on the basis of working groups and collection of best practices on the identification, protection and integration of victims of human trafficking.

The Role of the People for Change Foundation
Throughout the implementation, PfC will be responsible for the project activities in Malta, including the draft of the national report.and capacity building with relevant institutions in Malta. PfC will also produce online courses and other resources to help inform and support Malta's efforts in fighting human trafficking. Updates on the various aspects of the project will be posted on this page as the project implementation moves forward over the course of 2018.

COMMUNITY: INteractive and Creative Approaches to Discover Different Cultures

Project Funder: European Commission Creative Europe, Culture Sub-Programme
Lead Partner: Cooperazione Internazionale Sud Sud, Italy
Project Partners: Associazione Arci Porco Rosso (Italy), Associazione Tavola Tonda (Italy), Associazione di Promozione sociale Maghwed (Italy), Asociatia Serviciul Apel (Romania) and Encardia (Greece).

About this project
ComeIN is an audio-visual project currently being implemented in five European countries including Malta. It introduces creative and artistic integration activities and strategies for refugees and migrants. The project empowers participants to use art and photography to present their experience of integration in Malta, with an exciting opportunity to present their work in an exhibition.

The focus of the project is on the use of art to convey important messages - including through painting, sketching, clay making, poetry, photography materials, using recycling to create 3D art and collages. It will help migrants and refugees develop and unlock their artistic potential whilst at the same time sharing their experience of integration in Malta. Aside from artistic skills participants will also acquire other key skills including self-discipline, creativity and patience.

The project will allow participants to share their narrative of integration and the general public to engage with and better understand the way in which migrant and refugees experience their integration journey in Europe. These workshops are open to all migrants and refugees irrespective of status and of how long they have been in Malta, even if they do not have a creative background. The resultant exhibition will be used as an awareness raising tool across the island.

Aims and Objectives

To assess whether and how audio-visual processes can contribute to integration
To improve the experience of refugees in Malta by testing innovative integration strategies tailored to arts and photography as to bind the gap between Maltese society and refugee’s social inclusion.
To showcase refugees and beneficiaries of international protection through art and photography
To build capacity for domestic as well as international NGOs to familiarise their societies with creative integration strategies

The People for Change Foundation’s role
PfC will be implementing the national project activities in Malta. To organise the workshops and the exhibition, we are collaborating with local organisations working with migrant communities in Malta, namely Migrant Women Association Malta and African Media Association Malta.

Dialogue about Radicalisation and Equality

Project start date: 01 May 2017

Duration: 48 months
Project Funder: European Commission Horizon 2020
Lead Partner: University of Manchester (United Kingdom)

Project Partners: Hogskolen i Oslo og Akershus (Norway); Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (France); Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (France); Anadolu University (Turkey); Koehler Daniel (Germany); University Leiden (The Netherlands); Fachhochschule Dusseldorf (Germany); Teesside University (UK); Collegium Civitas (Poland); Panteio Panepistimio Koinonikon Kaipolitikon Epistimon (Greece); National Research University Higher School of Economics (Russia); Institute Drustvenih Znanosti Ivo Pilar (Crotia); European Network Against Racism (Belgium); People for Change Foundation (Malta); and Sfax University (Tunisia).

About the Project
DARE aims to significantly enhance our understanding of why and how young people become radicalised, that is adopt radical ideologies with the potential for violent action . It does so through conceptual innovation and refinement based on new empirical research on young people’s encounters with messages and agents of radicalisation, their receptivity and responses to them and the paths they subsequently take.

The concept and approach of the DARE project is embedded in its focus on:

Young people (broadly defined as those between 12 and 30 years of age);
Islamist and anti-Islam(ist) radicalisation (as manifestations of contemporary, and potentially cumulatively interacting, forms of radicalisation);
Dialogue about radicalisation and equality (as a means for enhancing young people’s capacity to counter radicalisation and promote non-radicalisation choices).

Aims and Objectives

The aim of the DARE project is to deepen and broaden our scientific understanding of why and how young people become radicalised. The project also seeks to demonstrate that radicalisation is not located exclusively in any one religion, community or demographic. Through its focus on Islamist and anti-Islam(ist) radicalisations, it explores how radicalisation processes interact and may have cumulative effects in society.

Background

The DARE project recognizes the importance of social inequality and discrimination in giving rise to a sense of grievance and perceived injustice, which motivate engagement with radical ideologies and actions. Recognising radicalisation to be a social phenomenon requiring urgent and serious attention given its significance for societal security is crucial, and DARE’s particular concern deals with the social origins and effects of radicalisation. DARE starts from the premise that the interaction between political and cultural context and an individual’s cognitive development is pivotal to understanding the radicalisation process and the pathways leading individuals toward extremist behaviour. It captures this interaction through a focus on radical milieu (e.g. ethnic, religious, or political) – social formations through which collective identities and solidarities are constructed. This project provides unique insights as this is rarely the focus of empirical study and often gets overlooked in research on radicalisation. DARE sees the future of radicalisation studies not in profiling the individual and his/her presumed associated qualities but understanding the process and meaning of engagement with radicalisation for the individual in historical, socio-cultural and political context.

The People for Change Foundation’s Role

The People for Change Foundation (PfC) is the national project partner responsible for conducting the project activities in Malta. In particular PfC will:

Undertake research on forms of radicalisation in Malta including anti-islamic radicalisation
Hold a number of focus group discussions about radicalisation in Malta
Develop educational toolkits about the themes of the project (co-leading the work package)
Host the mid-term Consortium Meeting and Policy Forum
Develop and support the project’s continuation, dissemination and impact plans
Work with relevant stakeholders in Malta to ensure a greater awareness of the project’s results.
Manage the project’s website and online presence

Classrooms for Change

Project start date: 15/01/2017
Duration: 6 months
Funder: Educating for Change: Capitalising on the EU Presidency in Malta to raise awareness on Agenda 2030, a SKOP project funded by the EU with the financial support of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Malta.

About the project
Through this project. The People for Change Foundation will launch online courses on migration, development, and empowerment for secondary school teachers. These courses which will be available in the second half of 2017 will give teachers in-depth knowledge about these topics, as well as equipping them to implement lessons about them for their students. This material will be intrinsically linked to the national minimum curriculum and to particular subjects within it, and will therefore allow teachers to integrate these topics within their teaching.

The aims of this project are to:

Provide a sustainable source of knowledge and educational materials for teachers and educators to include the SDGs and migration into their core curriculum
Inspire teachers to teach on topics relating to the SDGs, migration and empowerment
Ensure children and young people can engage with positive materials, facts, experiences, and attitudes relating to the SDGs and migration, and to build a better informed and empowered younger generation

Background
We live in an ever-changing world in which complex global issues affect each and every one of us. Mass-migration, global poverty, climate change, and inequality matters of concern to all. Educators are in an ideal position to equip children with the knowledge and skills to understand these important global challenges, each within their own sphere of influence. It is therefore important that teachers use this position, and their influence with the students they teach, to help them become knowledgeable, reflective, and responsible citizens, capable of acting purposefully to change their local, national, and international area for the better.

You can find more about this project here.

INTEGRA-TRAIN: Enhancing the Integration of Women, Beneficiaries of International Protection by Development and Implementation of Multifaceted Integration Trainings

Project Start Date: 1 January 2017
Duration: 24 Months
Project Funder: Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund of the European Union
Lead Partner: Center for the Study of Democracy (Bulgaria)
Project Partners: Hellenic Foundation of Europe & Foreign Policy (Greece), MELISSA: Network of Migrant Women in Greece (Greece), Centre for Social Studies and Policies (Italy), Comissio Catalana d’Ajuda al Refugiat (Spain), The People for Change Foundation (Malta), Cooperation for Voluntary Service (Bulgaria).

About the Project
Migrant women face multiple disadvantages in accessing vocational training, linguistic support and other lifelong learning opportunities. In economically booming Malta, a recent survey shows that the majority of migrant women cannot find employment, and those who are employed lack formal contracts. This relates not only to discrimination, but also to the specific sectors where migrant women tend to find employment. To address these gaps, this project builds on the findings of the EU-funded project ASSESS: Assessing the Integration of Vulnerable Migrant Groups, regarding the gaps and good practices in the integration of vulnerable migrant groups and in particular, migrant women. In view of the findings of that project the main objective of INTEGRA-TRAIN is to foster the integration of migrant women trough the design and piloting of comprehensive integration training.

Aims and Objectives
The aim of this project is to foster the integration of women beneficiaries of international protection in the participating countries and the European Union more broadly. In particular it will:

Foster an information sharing network between Member States with a long history of refugee integration (Italy and Spain) with those who have a less developed integration structure;
Build capacity for national NGOs as well as governmental organisations to offer integration courses, especially to women;
Facilitate familiarisation with the social, legal, political, and cultural environment of participating States to foster integration policies for the long term.

The specific objectives are as follows:

To study the addressed and unaddressed training needs of beneficiaries of international protection and asylum seekers;
To map reception and integration systems alongside cooperation mechanisms for asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection, as well as to identify opportunities for rejected asylum seekers – the most vulnerable population;
To identify gender gaps in the context of integration;
To evaluate various information provision and orientation training programmes provided along the process of reception and integration;
To offer recommendations about how to best address these gaps.

Background
The current global refugee crisis has highlighted a lack of infrastructure that aides in integrating migrants into European societies. With more than 75,000 arrivals in Europe from January-June 2017 (according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), existing labour market structures are challenged to absorb migrant potential. Lack of networks and social capital are cited among the main reasons for unemployment and underemployment among migrants, especially asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection. Even when integration policies and strategies are in place, they are not without gaps. International protection seekers often have their qualifications dismissed, and crowd into underpaid and heavily gender-segregated sectors.

In Malta, there are policies meant to aide in integration, but a comprehensive integration strategy is still being developed. A lack of dedicated resources and political will is making integration for international protection seekers difficult – despite labour shortages in the Maltese economy. Some of the gaps are filled by NGOs, but there is a need to map out these efforts to reduce duplication and to raise awareness of the opportunities available in various localities in Malta.

The People for Change Foundation’s Role
PfC is the national project partner responsible for conducting the project activities in Malta. PfC will undertake research and interviews with various stakeholders, provide opportunities for local stakeholders to participate in study visits in Italy and Spain and undertake national training seminars. It will also engage with project partners throughout the development of the project’s training curricula and materials and adapting them to the Maltese context.

You can find out more about this project here.

Minorities Beyond Migration

Project start date: 01/05/2016
Duration: 12 months
Funder: ENAR (European Network Against Racism)

About the Project
Since 2002, Malta has experienced an increase in arrival of African migrants. This skewed the focus of both research and policy towards migration and subsequently equated race relations in the island state with migration status. Therefore, the emphasis on understanding and combatting racial discrimination in Malta has focused almost exclusively on the experiences of first generation migrants and specifically asylum seekers.

However, this link is misleading. In fact, Malta has always had a small population of members of different minority groups – a Muslim population, an Arab population, an Indian population, as well as a black population. The terminology itself is interesting, as these populations, particularly in their second and third generation, are mostly composed of Maltese citizens; yet often they retain cultural and ethnic aspects pertaining to their ‘points of origin’, and therefore face a different set of challenges functioning within a society that is very predominantly white and Catholic. Presently the National Statistics Office (NSO) and service providers (e.g. hospitals) in Malta do not collect data on ethnicity. Therefore, the specific features and needs of Maltese citizens that are part of ethnic minorities are unknown.

The project aims to contribute to Maltese policymakers’ efforts in improving equality and understanding and combatting racial discrimination in Malta.

Aims and Objectives
The main aim of the project is to bridge the knowledge gap and increase understanding among Maltese authorities and civil society organisations of race dynamics and the experiences of ethnic minorities in Malta, beyond first generation migrants.

The project’ specific objectives are:
a) to provide an overview of main ethnic minorities in Malta, their features and needs;
b) to assess how members of ethnic minorities in Malta experience their minority status and issues of race dynamics;
c) to enhance awareness among practitioners and general public on race dynamics in Malta.

The project’s expected immediate results include: a) an increased awareness among public and practitioners of race dynamics and the experiences of ethnic minorities, beyond the first generation migrants, in Europe; b) Maltese authorities and civil society organisations of in Malta have a better view of features and needs of ethnic minorities’ in the country and of challenges they face related to race/ethnic discrimination.

The People for Change Foundation's role
The People for Change Foundation is implementing this project as an independent initiative in Malta.

You can find out more about this project here.

Tackling Hate Crime and Hate Speech (THACAS)

Project start date: November 2016
Duration: 23 months
Project Funder: Justice Programme of the European Commission
Lead Partner: People in Need (Slovakia)
Project Partners: Human Rights Monitoring Institute (Lithuania), Szubjektiv Értékek Alapítvány (Hungary), In Iustitia (Czech Republic) and The People for Change Foundation (Malta)

About the Project
With a view of addressing the under-reporting of hate crime and hate speech, this project will use insights from in-depth research to build mutual learning and exchange of practices in particular through the development of training and other tools for promoting the reporting of these crimes. Spanning across five EU countries (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta and Lithuania), the project seeks to identify the gaps and challenges for joint action to counter hate crime and to understand the different approaches the participating states have taken towards hate crime and hate speech.

Aims and Objectives

The aim of this project is to improve the support for victims of hate crime and hate speech through mutual learning, and to exchange of knowledge on reporting mechanisms.

The specific objectives are as follow:

To identify gaps and challenges in the application of hate crime and hate speech concepts within national legislation, policy and practice;

To share good practices and foster cooperation in efforts to overcome the underreporting of hate crime and hate speech;
To develop and establish adequate reporting mechanisms for hate crime and hate speech in the participating Member States’;
To improve access to professional legal assistance for victims of hate crime and hate speech.

Background

Hate speech and hate crime incidents, including those committed online, are on the rise in Europe, despite the existence of a robust legal framework being in place. The EU has set out a minimum standard to combat hate crime through the Council Framework Decision 2008/913/JHA. This decision compels EU Member States to punish intentional hate conduct against an individual or group on the grounds of race, colour, religion, descent or national or ethnic origin. However, some Member States’ such as the UK and Sweden go beyond the EU’s standards and offer greater protection to victims of hate crime.

Hate violence ranges from verbal attacks, through harassment, property damage to physical violence and terrorism. It continues to cause serious harm to individuals, targeted communities and hinders democracy in the EU. Research shows that hate crime and hate speech are often overlooked due to the lack of reporting mechanisms and adequate assistance readily available to victims. Although this appears to be the case in most EU countries, some have better developed tools available for awareness raising and supporting reporting. Hence the project will facilitate exchange of promising practices and available tools across countries.

Threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour is criminalised in Malta, as in many countries, but victims of hate crimes and hate speech still hesitate to come forward and report the violence they have encountered. Provisions against hate speech and hate crimes extend from the Criminal Code to the Broadcasting Act, but gaps in awareness among law enforcement authorities, the media and society at large still leave many victims feeling alone in their situation.

The People for Change Foundation’s Role

The People for Change Foundation (PfC) is the national project partner responsible for conducting the project activities in Malta including research, dissemination of promising practices and advocacy. This project is closely linked to other initiatives PfC is conducting, including Report Racism Malta, workshops for law enforcement officers, young people and media professionals (C.O.N.T.A.C.T Project).

INFORM

Project start date: 01/03/2016
Duration: 24 months
Lead Partner: Middlesex University (United Kingdom)
Project Partners: People for Change Foundation (Malta), SYMFILIOSI (Cyprus), Italian Refugee Council (Italy), Malmö University (Sweden) and Tallinn University (Estonia)

This project critically engages with the legal and procedural information provided to asylum seekers and to draw out evidence of best practice. It will provide an assessment of the current state of play, an exchange of existing best practices and a roadmap for enhancing the legal and procedural information provided to asylum seekers.

To this end, the project will involve country studies and comparative analysis in six selected European Union (EU) Member States: Cyprus, Estonia, Italy, Malta, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

The project pays particular attention to the needs of specific groups of asylum seekers such as women, children, and disabled persons.

The project aims at improving the legal and procedural information provided to asylum seekers in order to improve the quality of asylum decisions and reduce asylum appeals in the EU. The project’s objectives are the following:

To assess the legal and procedural information that is provided to asylum seekers in the selected countries focusing on the content, the accessibility, the form and the source of the information.
To develop a set of guidelines and standards that builds on the EU acquis and related refugee protection framework as well as a set of indicators to assess the quality of information.
To identify and showcase of best practices from the selected EU Member States in the provision of legal and procedural information.
To assess the implications of legal and procedural information on the quality of decision-making at both first instance asylum applications and, when unsuccessful, at appeal.
To develop a community of practice and learning that will bring together relevant stakeholders from various countries to share information.

The project contributes to improve the quality of asylum decisions. In particular, the long-term outcomes of the project include:

To improve the quality of information provided to asylum seekers.
To strengthen the asylum information networks and enhance practice and information exchange among individuals and organisations working in the area of asylum.
To improve access to research material in the area of asylum.

The People for Change Foundation's role
Throughout the implementation, PfC will be responsible for the project activities in Malta, including the draft of the national report. Additionally, PfC will develop the methodology for the research that will be conducted in the selected countries. Finally, PfC will conduct the comparative analysis, identify best practices, and develop the guidelines on legal and procedural information to asylum seekers.

The project website is available at: www.inform-asylum.eu

Counted: Ethnic and Equality Data Collection for Malta

Project Funder: European Network Against Racism / European Commission
Duration: 8 Months

Malta is currently in the process of discussing and enacting a series of measures to promote equality not least on the ground of race and ethnic origin. Equality data collection remains a missing link in the proposed framework. Equality data desegregated by ethnicity, regularly collected and published, would support the design, evaluation and monitoring of equality policy and measures according to relevant indicators. It would also empower anti-racist organizations to advocate based on inequalities identified. In the case of Malta, it would go some way into providing an evidence base for the claim that Maltese society is becoming increasingly diverse, a claim that whilst made at a political level has no current evidence on which to be based. The proposed project will:

Close the knowledge gap on the effects of equality data on combatting discrimination.
Raise awareness of the importance of data on ethnicity, identity as well as equality
Advocate for ethnic data collection with relevant institutions
Develop support for ethnic data collection
Develop a rationale as to how ethnic data can support equality measures, and how such measures can in turn be measured against data collection on equality

CONTACT (Creating an On-line Network, monitoring Team and phone App to Counter hate crime Tactics)

Project start date: 01/11/2015
Duration: 2 years
Project Funder: European Commission
Lead Partner: University of Cyprus
Project Partners: The UK Race and Europe Network (UK), The Hellenic League for Human Rights (Greece), AEQUITAS (Cyprus), QVORUM Institute’s (Romania), Ce.S.F.Or (Italy), Assocacion Socioeducativa LLERE (Spain), University of Southern Denmark, European Humanities University (Lithuania), University of Lodz (Poland), University of Malta and The People for Change Foundation (Malta).

About the Project
The project monitors and reports on hate crime and hate speech in ten EU countries (Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Spain, and United Kingdom). To this aim, it conducts research and training activities with the cooperation of project partners. In particular, this project involves comparative analysis of hate crime incidents, public awareness-raising activities on hate crime as well as the development of teaching modules for university courses and training materials for law enforcement officers and media practitioners. It makes use of innovative methodologies to denounce and monitor hate crime incidents (i.e. a web platform, an online crime reporting tool and a mobile application). The data collected will be invaluable in informing policy development. The main target groups of the project include youth, media as well as legal and law enforcement professionals.

Aims and Objectives
The overall aim of this project is to strengthen the capacity of civil society to combat racism and hate crime. In specific, the objectives of this project are the following:

To determine the political and academic parameters that link to the clear offence on a particular group or individual defined by colour, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation, or violation of other fundamental human rights;
To enhance social discussions and political debates on the effects of hate speech/crime into the society;
To encourage the reporting of hate speech/crime via CONTACT’s web platform, online reporting tool, and mobile application;
To build the capacity of youth, media professionals, law enforcement officers and others in the fight against hate speech/crime;

The long-term outcomes of the project include:

To raise awareness among the general public on hate crime and its impact on groups or people;
To promote cooperation across the European Union and among a variety of stakeholders against hate speech/crime.

The People for Change Foundation's role
The People for Change Foundation (PfC) is the local project partner responsible for conducting the project activities in Malta together with the University of Malta. The PfC is primarily responsible for the organization of workshops and training sessions addressed to law enforcement officers, young people and media professionals. This project is closely linked to other initiatives PfC is conducting including Report Racism Malta, and advocacy activities for the promotion of human dignity on online news portals.

Evimed

Project start date: 01/09/2015
Duration: 24 months
Project Funder: Economic and Social Research Council (United Kingdom)
Project Partners: Middlesex University (Lead Partner) and the Mediterranean Observatory on Migration, Protection and Asylum (MOMPA), Borderline Sicily (Italy), the Greek Council for Refugees (Greece), the People for Change Foundation (Malta).

About the Project
EVI-MED is conducting data collection and analysis regarding the so called Mediterranean 'migration crisis' in order to address the lack of reliable data and a multiplicity of governmental and non-government agencies currently handling large flows of migrants and refugees. Within this context, EVI-MED will map the nature and extent of the Mediterranean migration crisis, identifying the structural aspects and outcomes of rapidly changing practices undertaken by States and NGOs, as well as analysing the rationale, plans and trajectories of diverse groups of migrants and asylum seekers crossing the Mediterranean. In doing so, EVI-MED will provide insights into the major humanitarian, social, economic and political implications for the principal countries of arrival – above all Italy and Greece – as well as Malta, which is a central pillar of the search and rescue effort.

In the long term, this project seeks to create an extensive data resource that analyses the dynamics of Mediterranean migrant flows, reception and pressure points with insights from countries of origin to contribute to:

Better informed reception policy by EU Member States that will manage migrant flows effectively.
To encourage adherence to the EU Reception Conditions Directive.
To strengthen the knowledge base for the area, not least by making information and analysis publicly available
Policy makers, practitioners and the research community. A database, which will be compiled of qualitative research, official statistics and statistics compiled by relief agencies, will act as an evidence base for planning, advocacy and fundraising.
Media and political narratives on Mediterranean migration, by providing individual migrants with a voice to recount their life histories and experiences.

The objectives of the EVI-MED Project are:

To compile a synthetic database of migration characteristics and trends across the Mediterranean, in order to highlight how these are changing and what impact government policies may have on migration decisions and experiences along the route.
To create an evidence base on the profiles, routes, experiences, motivations and plans of those who migrate to Europe gathered through structured questionnaires and interviews.
To systematically map official reception systems in Sicily, Malta and Greece, identifying governmental and non-governmental actors involved in the identification, management, reception, integration and potential return of migrants who make the journey across the Mediterranean. The interactive maps will visualise flows and the spatial effects on reception and related service provision, thus allowing for better planning and coordination.
To analyse the dynamics of the migration process and reception situations along the Mediterranean through information derived by data-sets, interviews with experts and practitioners and ongoing research activities.

The People for Change Foundation's role
The People for Change Foundation is the local project partner responsible for implementing the research activities in Malta, including by undertaking a mapping of reception services in Malta, and conducting interviews with migrants and stakeholders. We will also participate in the overall planning and implementation of the project together with other project partners.

You can find out more about this project here.

Ll2II - Learning of Local Bodies to Integrate Immigrants

Start Date: 01/09/2015
Duration: 24 months
Lead Partner: CRM Consulting (Turkey)
Project Partners: INCOMA (Spain), FH Joanneum (Austria), Programma Integra (Italy), Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Policies (Turkey’s Family and Social Policies Ministry), Zeytinburnu Municipality (Turkey), People for Change Foundation (Malta)

About the Project
Learning of Local Bodies to Integrate Immigrants (LL2II) supports the capacity development of civil society and local authorities’ staff working for migrant inclusion into the host society. To this end, the project employs innovative approaches and tools facilitating transnational learning such as an Open Learning Platform. Additionally, the project will involve collection of good practices on migrant integration from five selected European countries (i.e. Austria, Italy, Malta, Spain, and Turkey) and the development of a training curriculum to support local practitioners working with migrants.

Aims and Objectives
The overall aim of the project is to train and empower staff of local bodies, NGOs, operators and other field actors providing services to migrants and working for their inclusion into the host society. The project’s objectives are the following:

To identify good practices on migrant integration from European countries;
To develop a training curriculum and a guidebook for civil society and local authorities operators working with migrants to enhance their capacity in facilitating their integration;
To enhance transnational information sharing on migrant integration between local actors working with migrants via an Open Learning Platform and round tables in each partner country involving practitioners in the field of migration.

The long-term outcomes of the project include:

To improve immigrant integration into the host society.
To enhance transnational information sharing and cooperation between local actors working with migrants.

To support the implementation of socially inclusive policies on migration in different national contexts.
To raise awareness of and support for policy making in the area of immigrant integration across Europe.

Background
In 2014, 3.4 million people immigrated to one of the European Union (EU) countries. Among them, an estimated 1.6 million immigrants were from non-Member States. As stated by the Europe 2020 Strategy, an effective migrant integration into receiving countries would improve the productivity of the EU economy and build a competitive and sustainable society. To this aim, the EU Agenda for the Integration of Third Country Nationals (EC 2011) underlines the role of local actors in creating favorable conditions for migrants' economic, social, cultural and political participation to realize the potential of migration. Additionally, the Agenda calls for an enhanced collaboration and information sharing between Member States to find solutions to common integration challenges. Local actors play a vital role in the implementation and development of integration policies especially in the areas of housing, education and employment. Finally, the EU 2020 Strategy harnesses the lifelong learning with innovate education and training practices and ICT tools also in policy areas.

In line with this approach, the LL2II project employs an international cooperative methodology and innovative tools to support the capacity development of local actors working for migrant integration into the host society. In particular the project targets local authorities, NGOs, trainers, counselors, service providers’ staff members and volunteers working with migrants as well as policy makers.

The People for Change Foundation's role
The People for Change Foundation is the project partner responsible for implementing the project activities in Malta including identification of good practices related to migrant integration. We will also participate in the overall planning and implementation of the project together with other project partners.

The project website is available at: www.ll2ii.eu

Unravelling the Mediterranean Migration Crisis (MEDMIG)

Project start date: 01/10/2015
Duration: 12 months
Project Funder: United Kingdom Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Lead Partner: The Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations (CTPSR) at University of Coventry (United Kingdom)
Project Partners: Institute of Applied Social Sciences (United Kingdom), the Institute for Research into Superdiversity (IRiS) (United Kingdom), the Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS), at University of Oxford (United Kingdom), The People for Change Foundation (Malta), the Hellenic Foundation of European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) (Greece), the International and European Forum of Migration Research (FIERI) (Italy), and the European Union Research Centre at Yasar University (Turkey).

About the Project
In response to the unprecedented increase in migration rates in 2015, The People for Change Foundation has partnered with the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations (CTPSR) at Coventry University and others to conduct the first large-scale, systematic and comparative study on the backgrounds, experiences, aspirations and routes of migrants who have made the journey across the Mediterranean in 2015. Additionally, this research explores migrants’ interactions with migration facilitators and agents, humanitarian organizations and other third parties to determine how these interactions are influencing migrants’ decisions to make the journey and shaping subsequent migration patterns.

While the history, root causes, political and socio-economic determinants shaping migration patterns in specific origin and transit countries have been relatively well studied, this project aims to address existing knowledge gaps, especially in terms of socio-economic characteristics and differences in the motivations, aspirations and journeys of migrants. Additionally, this project will address the limitations of previous research in which specifically defined categories of migrant groups (‘irregular migrants’, ‘economic migrants’, ‘refugees’, etc) have been unable to account for the movement of individuals in and out of these categories thus limiting the theoretical and conceptual understanding of the dynamics of migration and of the complex and multifaceted backgrounds, lives and identities of those who make the journey. Also explored throughout this project is the impact of various policy responses on migrant flows and outcomes.

This project will be carried out in twelve sites in four countries that have been particularly affected by the recent increase in migration rates across the Mediterranean. Research conducted in Italy and Malta will explore the dynamics of migration along the Central Mediterranean route while research conducted in Greece and Turkey will explore that of the Eastern Mediterranean route.

Aims and Objectives
This project will push the theoretical and conceptual boundaries of migration studies and encourage critical reflexive dialogue and practice by opening new and inclusive spaces for questioning and challenging established ways of categorizing and thinking about the ongoing ‘crisis’.. Thus, it will create opportunities for increased policy dialogue and academic collaboration between the case study countries and across the European Union more generally.

The long term outcomes of this project include:

A reduction of the significant limitations of future academic research on ‘the migrant experience’ by offering new insights into the ways socio-economic factors shape the journeys and experiences of migrants and situating the multidimensional individual migrant within broader historical, social, economic and political contexts at the local, national and international levels.
Better informed policy makers and service providers in the case study countries and across the EU who are aware of evolving motivations, aspirations and journeys of migrants
Better informed public and media narratives which will increase the political space and will for devising appropriate policy responses to the crisis

The specific objectives of the project:

To shed light on the dynamics (determinants, drivers and infrastructures) underpinning the recent unprecedented levels of migration across, and loss of life in, the Mediterranean by mapping the geographies, routes, and journeys of migrants arriving in Italy, Greece and Malta as well as those seeking to enter the EU from Turkey;
To examine the interaction of migrants with a multitude of non-state actors (for example agents, facilitators, intermediaries and civil society organizations) and state actors (for example navy / coastguard) in order to better understand the decision making processes which influence their journeys;
To explore the relevant opportunities and constraints in countries of origin and refuge/transit to highlight how migrants' decisions on their journeys interact with dramatically changing global economic, security and political contexts;
To compare the Central and Eastern Mediterranean routes in terms of migrant backgrounds, motivations, aspirations and journeys, and the impact of the differential policy response on migrant flows and outcomes;
To provide a robust evidence base to inform the development of policy responses by governmental, inter-governmental and non-governmental actors; and
To bring together a network of academics from across the case study countries with international governmental and nongovernmental actors to engage in dialogue on the scale of the migration crisis, its dynamics and drivers and opportunities for future collaboration.

The People for Change Foundation's role
The People for Change Foundation is the local project partner responsible for conducting the project activities in Malta including by undertaking semi-structured interviews with newly arrived migrants and stakeholders. We will also participate in the overall planning and implementation of the project together with the other project partners.

Female Genital Mutilation (Forms of Violence - A Gender Perspective)

Start date: February 2015
Duration: 12 Months
Commissioning Organisation: National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE)

The People for Change Foundation carried out research on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Malta as part of the project ‘Forms of Violence in Malta – A Gender Perspective’, supported by the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity - PROGRESS (2007 - 2013). The research shed light on the needs of migrant women coming from female genital mutilation practicing countries, women who experienced FGM, as well as the needs of healthcare providers working with these women. It looked at perceptions on the practice as well as services available to those who have had the practice and those at risk.

You can find out more about this project here.

Best Practice in Determining and Implementing Durable Solutions for Separated Children in Europe

Start date of the project: February 2014
Duration: 18 months
Lead Partner: Irish Refugee Council (Ireland)

Durable solution in the context of separated children is often considered in terms of return and reintegration. However, a durable solution assessment is not only an integral step in determining if a child should return to their country of origin, but is also important in determining whether it is in the best interest of the child to apply for international protection, trafficking protection or to make an application to stay in the country of arrival on immigration or human rights and children’s rights grounds.

Children need support and consistency in order to overcome traumatic experiences, including those experienced in the country of origin, in transit and in the country of arrival. Children also have the right to be heard and have their views taken into account to determine their best interests in respect of assessing and implementing a durable solution. It is therefore crucial that European Member States have adequate procedures in place to develop a care plan that incorporates a durable solution. This care plan should take into account the views of the child and assess any risk factors at the outset and continually review this plan as the child matures and their circumstances change.

Although the main objectives of the research focus on the methodology behind the durable solution, through this process, the researchers will explore the following topics with the stakeholders (including separated children) in the context of putting in place a durable solution for the child.

You can find out more about this project here.

Assess: Integration of Vulnerable Migrant Groups

Start date of the project: 01/12/2013
Duration: 18 months
Lead Partner: Centre for the Study of Democracy (Bulgaria)

This project monitors and assesses the effectiveness of integration measures for three vulnerable migrant groups – women, children and victims of trafficking. The assessment aims to identify the strengths and weaknesses in the application of the Common Basic Principles on Migrant Integration when it comes to the integration of vulnerable migrant groups. In addition, it will serve to identify and initiate the exchange of good practice in the field between EU countries of different migration patterns, regimes and experiences.

The project thereby addresses a gap in the analysis and evaluation of integration measures that have in a large part adopted a generic approach. By looking at the specific vulnerabilities and integration challenges faced by migrant women, children and victims of trafficking the project will offer tailored methodology and specific indicators for monitoring the integration of these vulnerable migrants groups.

This project will be carried out in 10 EU Member States that represent Europe’s different migration patterns and experiences in dealing with migration and integration issues. The project will be realized in five "old" Member States with considerable immigrant inflows (Austria, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Spain) and in five “new” Member States with "evolving" immigration patterns and regimes (Bulgaria, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Slovakia). Moreover, the project will address developments at the European institution level.

You can find out more about this project here.

Integration Policies: Who benefits?

Start date of the project: 01/09/2013
Duration: 18 months
Lead Partner: Centre d’Informació i Documentació Internacionals a Barcelona (CIDOB) / Migration Policy Group (MPG)
Funding: European Union - European Integration Fund (Community Actions)

The project will inform and engage key policy actors about how to use indicators to improve integration governance and policy effectiveness. To that end, the project will identify and measure integration outcomes, integration policies, and other contextual factors that can impact policy effectiveness; describe the real and potential beneficiaries of policies; and collect and analyse high quality evaluations of integration policy effects.

The project will use and update existing data from a wide variety of sources, undertake new research, visualise the results in a user-friendly way, disseminate them in at least 27 EU Member States (plus Croatia, minus Denmark) and organise in-depth debates in at least 12. Through the collection, analysis, and visualisation of statistical data, the project will clarify who are the potential and current beneficiaries of policies in seven key areas, namely employment, education, political participation, access to nationality, family reunification, long-term residence, and anti-discrimination. The project will conduct a complete review of integration outcomes, policies, and beneficiaries in the 27 EU Member States. In addition, the project aims to include other countries, specifically Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, and major OECD countries of immigration, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the US (at the costs of partners in these countries).

You can find out more about this project here.

FETE: From Expats to Experts

Dates of project: October 2014 to October 2016
Duration: 24 months

The project “From Expats to Experts: United Civil Society through Inclusion and Empowerment of Young Immigrants” firstly targets sixty 18-30 year old young first generation immigrants mainly from non-EU countries who are currently living in the EU. The aim of the project is to provide each participant with the opportunity to gain and improve work experience and soft skills, take ownership and work on small scale projects beneficial for local communities in Malta, Italy, France and Denmark. In addition, the project aims at capacity building of NGOs, social enterprises and public institutions in order to create space for dialogue about positive impacts of international immigration in civil society.

You can find out more about this project here.

Migration Profile for Malta

Dates of Project: January-March 2014
Duration: 3 Months
Partners: International Organization for Migration and Integra Foundation

In the first part of 2014 The People for Change Foundation in collaboration with Integra Foundation and the International Organization for Migration is preparing the Migration Profile for Malta. Migration profiles are conceived as a concise statistical report, prepared according to a common framework, which could make it easier to understand "at a glance" the migration situation in a particular country. They provide a framework for bringing existing information from different sources together in a structured manner at both national and regional levels and a means to identify and develop strategies to address data and policy development needs. Migration Profiles intend to strengthen the evidence base and to encourage evidence-based migration policy making. This initiative is part of our work to support evidence based policy making.

Knowledge-based analysis and policy advice in the antidiscrimination field and the EU 2020 Strategy

Dates of Project: January - March 2014
Duration: 3 Months
Lead Partner: Milieu Law and Policy Consulting for the European Commission

The project aims to provide the European Commission with informed analysis of national situations and policy developments with regard to discrimination on the grounds of age, ethnic or racial origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or belief and with respect to multiple discrimination; to support the European Commission in mainstreaming non-discrimination policies in the EU2020 Strategy and; to provide advice and expertise in different events and seminars focused on Equality policies. This will be achieved in particular through national research on non-discrimination laws, policies and practices for each of the EU Member States. The People for Change Foundation is the national research consultant for this project.

Anti-Trafficking: Networking Anti-Trafficking Efforts across the European Union

Date of Project: December 2013 - December 2014
Duration: 12 Months (subject to continuation)
Partners: The People for Change Foundation and the Centre for Business Network Analysis, University of Greenwich, UK.

This project applies network analysis techniques to anti-trafficking efforts across the European Union. In so doing, it seeks to understand and map the myriad of connections that underpin efforts to prevent human trafficking, prosecute traffickers and protect trafficked persons. Network analysis provides a tool for mapping and measuring the relationships between the various organisations, stakeholders and individuals involved in this work and provides a visual and a mathematical analysis of these relationships. In so doing, it helps us understand these networks, build on their strengths whilst mitigating any potential weaknesses.

You can find out more about this project here.

Access to Protection: A Human Right!

Dates of Project: 2012-2013
Duration: 18 months
Lead Partner: Consiglio Italiano per i Refugiati (CIR)
Funding: European Programme on Integration and Migration (EPIM) of the Network of European Foundations (NEF)

Since 2012 The People for Change Foundation has been implementing the Access to Asylum: A Human Right! Project in Malta. The issue of access to protection including the issue of human rights at the external borders is particularly relevant for Malta as an EU border State. The overall objective of the project is to bring national/EU policies and practices in line with the obligations set out by the European instruments on Human Rights and in particular by the Strasbourg Court in the Hirsi case, as far as the access to the territory and to protection is concerned.

The desired outcome is the improvement of Member States’ respect of fundamental human rights relating to access to protection at EU’s external borders.

You can find out more about this project here.