Periodic Reporting for period 2 - MIMY (EMpowerment through liquid Integration of Migrant Youth in vulnerable conditions)
Reporting period: 2021-02-01 to 2023-01-31
The overall objective of MIMY is to investigate the integration processes of young migrants (aged between 18 and 29) who are third-country nationals living in Europe and who find themselves in vulnerable conditions. MIMY focuses on the integration processes of young migrants and the challenges and opportunities they face in the local context where they live and interact in order to answer one main research question: How to support the liquid integration processes of young migrants in vulnerable conditions in Europe to increase social and economic benefits of and for migrants? MIMY provides insights on 1) the long-term socio-economic effects of integration, 2) the factors fostering or hindering integration processes of young migrants, and 3) the role of various actors and institutions in enhancing the resilience and resistance strategies of young migrants. Through the conceptual understanding of integration as a dynamic and open-ended process - 'liquid integration', and an innovative multi-method approach, MIMY offers direct benefits to young migrants and extensively contributes to integration studies. Especially, the migrant-centered and participatory approach of MIMY is directly impacting the main project target group by involving them as peer researchers in various activities of the project. Reflections on their experience can be read on the MIMY youth blog which is part of the project website. The participatory art-based activities offered creative space to express the integration experiences of young migrants and young locals. Besides MIMY enables the direct exchange of young migrants with policymakers and stakeholders through nine integration workshops. The project ensures a close involvement of stakeholders and policymakers actively in the field of youth migration throughout the project through the stakeholder platform, the National Expert Committees, and the Delphi Study. Moreover, MIMY identifies which strategies and policies can successfully support the integration of young adult migrants. The evidence-based policy recommendations, the Delphi Study with stakeholders, the Handbook on Promising Integrative Practices as well as the Synthesis Report help to inform policy and practice in the field of migrant youth integration in Europe.
During the second and third project years, the project focused on its empirical activities, its participatory component involving young adult migrants (e.g. peer researchers, participants in art-based activities and integration workshops), synergising results, and dissemination of project results (e.g. at the final conference in Brussels).
The empirical findings presented are based on qualitative empirical research in 18 selected case study localities in 9 European countries.Overall the work carried out during the second and third project years has focused on conducting empirical research activities (e.g. interviews with stakeholders, young migrants, and young locals, and focus groups with young migrants and migrants from previous generations) and focused on the following topics: migrant youth in vulnerable conditions; the effects of local actors; the role of the local population including young locals. Overall, the empirical research of MIMY included 1172 participants with 802 individual interviews conducted and 80 focus groups with 370 participants. Especially, the migrant-centered approach of MIMY was directly impacting the project target group by involving young migrants as peer researchers in various activities of the project. Reflections on their experience can be read on the MIMY youth blog which is part of the project website.Additionally the participatory action research by applying art-based methods (e.g.,LEGO® Serious Play®, Digital Storytelling) offered creative space to express their integration experiences to young migrants and young locals. The online exhibition at the MIMY website offers some insights. Direct exchange of young migrants with policymakers and stakeholders was taking place during the nine integration workshops in eight countries. Besides, stakeholders and policymakers active in the field of youth migration were closely involved throughout the project through the stakeholder platform and the National Expert Committees, the Delphi Study, and the integration workshops in eight countries.Additionally the third year of the project focused on creating synergies, impact assessment, and disseminating the project results addressing the main target groups of MIMY (young migrants, local population, policymakers and stakeholders on local, national and EU level, and wider civil society). The highlight was the MIMY final conference in Brussels including a policy roundtable and an art vernissage presenting different participatory action research results from the MIMY case study countries.
The empirical findings presented are based on qualitative empirical research in 18 selected case study localities in 9 European countries.Overall the work carried out during the second and third project years has focused on conducting empirical research activities (e.g. interviews with stakeholders, young migrants, and young locals, and focus groups with young migrants and migrants from previous generations) and focused on the following topics: migrant youth in vulnerable conditions; the effects of local actors; the role of the local population including young locals. Overall, the empirical research of MIMY included 1172 participants with 802 individual interviews conducted and 80 focus groups with 370 participants. Especially, the migrant-centered approach of MIMY was directly impacting the project target group by involving young migrants as peer researchers in various activities of the project. Reflections on their experience can be read on the MIMY youth blog which is part of the project website.Additionally the participatory action research by applying art-based methods (e.g.,LEGO® Serious Play®, Digital Storytelling) offered creative space to express their integration experiences to young migrants and young locals. The online exhibition at the MIMY website offers some insights. Direct exchange of young migrants with policymakers and stakeholders was taking place during the nine integration workshops in eight countries. Besides, stakeholders and policymakers active in the field of youth migration were closely involved throughout the project through the stakeholder platform and the National Expert Committees, the Delphi Study, and the integration workshops in eight countries.Additionally the third year of the project focused on creating synergies, impact assessment, and disseminating the project results addressing the main target groups of MIMY (young migrants, local population, policymakers and stakeholders on local, national and EU level, and wider civil society). The highlight was the MIMY final conference in Brussels including a policy roundtable and an art vernissage presenting different participatory action research results from the MIMY case study countries.
The art-based activities offered additional room for creative expression on their own experiences and empowered young migrants and locals directly. The project highlights how different localities and institutions deal with the integration of young migrants living in vulnerable conditions, and how they interact with the local population and collects innovative ideas and techniques to promote integration across diverse sectors and contexts in the EU. MIMY was also in close exchange with local, regional, and national stakeholders and policymakers active in the field of youth migration, and involved them in various research activities: the stakeholder platform, the Delphi Study, integration workshop and a policy roundtable during the final project conference in Brussels. The project published evidence-based policy recommendations, a Handbook on promising integrative practices, and a Synthesis report. Finally, MIMY contributed to each studied locality independently by exploring the integration process together with representatives of the local population, practitioners, and migrants in order to foster the well-being and active participation of young migrants. MIMY aims to improve knowledge, visibility of the issues at stake, mutual understanding, communication, and policy-making in the field of migrant youth integration in Europe. MIMY intends to foster inclusive, non-discriminatory, and innovative policies, support the integration of vulnerable young migrants, and offer them the space to influence their own development in the new host societies. MIMY aims in the long term to support the social integration of vulnerable young migrants and to promote diversity and an inclusive society within Europe by offering an opportunity to discuss and connect different groups within society to foster social cohesion and the integration of migrants. The direct involvement of young migrants via peer research, and participatory research activities ensured the direct empowerment of young migrants by giving them a direct voice. These reflections can be read at the MIMY youth blog on the project website. The project developed a theory on ‘liquid integration’ and created a knowledge base on current integration policies and implementation at the European, national, and local level focusing on young migrants living in vulnerable conditions. MIMY published research and practice-driven recommendations on the integration of young adult migrants for policymakers, policy users, and researchers delivering evidence from the rich quantitative and qualitative data material gathered throughout the project in its 18 case studies.