Erasmus COCAGNE was a project that brought together six European associations working with migrants – whether they have left their country for asylum, medical, or economic reasons – or with groups experiencing different forms of social and economic exclusion. The project was being implemented between 01.09.2020 and 30.06.2023 and the organisations that participated in it originated from France, Germany, Poland, Romania, and Italy.
The project aimed at increasing the knowledge of non-governmental organisations and improving the quality of services provided to communities affected by exclusion. The participants identified good practices in their own or foreign organisations, analysed them, and presented their findings to the rest in order to share their experiences. Making a comparison between the methods of introducing public policy and systems related to the right to asylum, access to housing, and professional integration in different partner countries was also crucial for achieving the most positive results of the programme.
The final results of the project were summarised in detail in a special report available in the languages of participating organisations and English. It presents descriptions of activities performed by the associations, their results, as well as personal stories of some migrants who went through a lot on their path to settling in Europe.
The Rule of Law Institute was an important partner in the project. In February 2022, it played a significant role as one of three non-governmental organisations that founded the Lublin Social Committee to Aid Ukraine, setting an example of civic engagement and supporting cooperation between local entities.
Participation in the Cocagne programme was an incredible opportunity for the employees at the Institute to broaden their horizons, learn about alien practices, and create rapport with foreign non-governmental organisations. Thanks to the project, our understanding of some key issues affecting the integration of migrants, especially in the contexts with which we did not have much contact previously, has improved significantly.
Get to know the organisations that took part in the programme with us:
Habitat-Cité is a French non-profit organization that has been working since 2003 in France, specifically in the Ile-de-France region, and internationally in the Caribbean and Central America, in the field of fighting against poor housing and exclusion. In the Ile-de-France region, its actions are aimed at migrants who have arrived in France to seek asylum or for economic reasons. Specifically, it has experience working with Russian-speaking asylum seekers from former USSR countries and Roma populations from Romania and Moldova.
O.R.So. is a social cooperative that was established in 1987 and operates in various areas of the Piedmont Region in northwestern Italy. Its main focus is on active labor market policies, youth policies, migrant integration policies, and training activities. O.R.So. has developed competences and tools related to the social support of migrants, skills recognition, language learning, legal assistance, and the professional integration of refugees and asylum seekers.
Asylarbeitskreis Heidelberg e.V. was founded in 1995 and it currently operates with one employee funded by the city of Heidelberg and 142 volunteers. Their dedicated mission is to support refugees in Heidelberg in various aspects of their new life: learning the language, dealing with their asylum procedures and with authorities, helping with homework, leisure activities, contacts with the neighborhood, public gardening, legal advice, integration into the labor market. The Asylarbeitskreis is initiating and executing many long-term projects, small and big, on a regular basis, as well as political events.
The Centre for Independent Social Research (CISR e.V. Berlin) is a non-governmental research organization founded in Berlin in 2015 by social researchers, experts, and civil activists. Its main areas of focus are social research, civil society development, and education in collaboration with post-socialist states. The organization employs social researchers with extensive experience in implementing both international research projects and civil society initiatives. Its primary areas of activity include conflict transformation, migration and inclusion, and urban activism. CISR e.V. Berlin currently has five permanent employees and five volunteers.
Make Better (MKBT) consists of an interdisciplinary team that combines professional experience in housing, facilitation of participatory planning, local development strategies, and the design of urban regeneration interventions. MKBT has primarily worked at the local level, assisting local authorities, businesses, and foundations in better serving the communities they work with.
The Rule of Law Institute (RLI) is a non-governmental organization established in 2001 in Lublin, Poland. Its primary objective is to support initiatives that promote legal awareness in society, provide continuing professional education for lawyers, enhance knowledge of European law and the concept of European integration, initiate human rights protection measures, and advocate for legal education reform. Since its inception, the Institute has been actively involved in initiatives for free legal advice and law school clinics.
We encourage you to read the publication prepared at the end of the project.
