Families and associations supporting the inclusion of migrant children with learning difficulties

What was the main purpose of this project?

“Experts from associations and organisations working with immigrant children often must develop intervention strategies, regarding the effective social inclusion, which provide above all for a strong commitment in the field of non-formal language training. Immigrant children may, exclusively for socio-cultural reasons, be considered individuals with Special Educational Needs. Therefore, ‘European Network for Social Inclusion’ project aims to build on the good practices employed in education with compensatory tools and to transfer them in non-formal language training for immigrant children. Thus, the aim is to compare the methods adopted in the different partner countries in order to develop a language learning model that can be used regardless of the country of the children.

Specific objectives are:

• Promoting the exchange of best practices among social workers in the field of non-formal language training of immigrant children.
• Promoting the recognition of non-formal and informal learning in the adult education field.
• Enhancing the international dimension of activities in the adult education field.
• Enhancing the role of parents and educators in no formal sector and organizations such as support structures for social inclusion of children and teenagers with special educational needs.”

How did the project foster cooperations and partnerships?

“During the project, each partner, already involved with the applicant in other European projects, has improved and implemented the cohesion of the whole partnership for the success of the project. The partners shared their best practices on the social inclusion of immigrant children with learning difficulties due to socio-cultural reasons.”

European Network for Social Inclusion project aims to build on the good practices employed in education with compensatory tools and to transfer them in non-formal language training for immigrant children.

What was the best practice learnt from this project that you want to share?

“We cannot choose only one best practice, as all the best practices of the partners are full of experiences and are an added value for the project and for the all partnership. We can mention some important methodologies adopted by the partners who deal with immigrant children:

• Know yourself by playing: socializing games, role playing and drama, musical games, songs;
• Solidarity snacks and laboratories of intercultural cuisine with the involvement of parents;
• Creative workshops for youngsters;
• Linguistic laboratories, for metalinguistic and common learning and L2 (Italian for foreigners) for teens;
• Literacy support activities;
• Cooking atelier; home life and technique atelier; different music ateliers; applied atelier; sport and games in open air, excursions; group of the girls; group of the bigger teenagers; group for the parents; meetings and excursions for the parents.

Games, roles, discussion on case studies in small groups are also a good example of sharing emotions which allows children to survive, rebuild and learn new behaviors, and that helps them recognise and name them unacceptable behavior, experience of violence, and talk about it.”

Text: EAEAPhotos: European Network for Social Inclusion