The issues addressed were the two sides of integration :
I ) the importance of capacity building of the migrants themselves to facilitate their integration
II) the respective awareness needed by the receiving community especially of a young age, conducted with the aid of the migrants themselves.

The main aims of the project were:
- to facilitate and promote the integration of beneficiaries of international projection by enhancing their capacity to act as agents for change;
- to foster a culture of welcome and inclusion in Maltese society, mostly among children and teenagers.

The quantitative aim was to target 8 migrants and approximately 4.000 Maltese students.

The project involved:
i) the recruitment of 8 participants for capacity building training;
ii) the 3 days of training in Maltese History and Culture, Public Speaking, and Human Rights, as well as 3 week intensive English Language Course and 24 hours of Maltese language classes;
iii) developing an organic and captivating theatrical performance 'SOS – Stories of Somalia' with the project participants and theater producers; The theatrical performance was scripted and performed by the migrants themselves after guidance and help of two local theatre producers.
iv) organising school visits, visits to community centres, theatrical performances.

The main aims of the project were achieved: 41 school visits were held, 2 community centres were visited, and 3 days of theatrical performances were organised. In all 4,000 Maltese students were reached.

There was an overwhelming number of invites from both primary and secondary schools. This is a clear sign that this issue is becoming increasingly important within schools, which are direct reflections of a changing society.

JRS also produced an information leaflet ‘Who is a refugee?’ for this project and this was distributed to all the participants in the events.

There were three parts to the evaluation: the training phase was rated mostly as excellent. The awareness raising activities were evaluated with a form filled in from the schools. The results were overwhelmingly positive and satisfied with the age-appropriateness of the activities conducted.

The training phase was vital to the success of the rest of the project. This is recommended for all such projects involving direct contact with children. The willingness of schools to receive more of such events showed a lacuna in Maltese school programme to deal with such issues. The theatrical performance was extremely successful and effective in educating the children. This was evident in the questions that the children asked following the performance. Drama and theater as a medium of education for hot topics are highly recommended.

The direct beneficiaries were: the 8 participants as well as the 4,000 students reached according to target.
Indirectly we hope that this project will benefit the wider society especially when there is a ripple effect through the families of the students, the schools and communities and the migrants themselves.

This project was partially funded by the European Refugee Fund (ERF) – General Programme Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows (2007-2013).
Resources were mainly human resources in organising the whole programme the visits, the fees paid to trainers.