Municipality/Region

Catalonia, Spain

Summary

The Generalitat de Catalunya (Government of Catalonia) has implemented a mentoring programme to facilitate the social inclusion of unaccompanied minors (UAMs), with the collaboration of local communities. By pairing them with local volunteers, children are able to connect to the host society, which helps their personal and educational development. Moreover, the mentoring programme helps them in language learning and improving their skills.

Areas of integration covered by practice

• Unaccompanied minors 
• Integration of migrants in political and civic local life
• Mentoring for refugees

Background and purpose

In 2018, 3,700 unaccompanied minors came to Catalonia. This is in addition to those who arrived in earlier years. The Government of Catalonia therefore found a need to work on the integration of UAMs following the initial reception phase.

One of the main issues for the integration of UAMs is the lack of adult guidance in the host society. By pairing them with an adult mentor, this programme aims to improve UAMs’ integration in the host society and support them in planning an education and training pathway to improve their chances for success in life.

Timeframe

This programme started in 2018 and is ongoing.

How does it work?

Volunteer mentors enrol in the programme through an online form. All mentors need to complete an interview with a psychologist and a 16-hour training which focuses on the mentoring relationship and the reality that unaccompanied minors face. The training is implemented by the Secretariat for Equality, Migration and Citizenship.

The General Direction of Attention to Children and Adolescents selects eligible UAMs for the programme by talking to social workers at the centres where UAMs live. All UAM candidates go through an interview to assess their motivation for the programme. Taking into account the participants’ profiles, the programme pairs up mentors and mentees.

The social worker who is responsible for each UAM highlights three areas that the mentor should work on during the programme. The mentors help the mentees to learn Catalan and learn about Catalonia. The mentors also provide educational and occupational guidance and participate in various activities with the mentees in their free time. Each mentoring pair has a professional they can rely on to help with challenges encountered over the course of the mentoring. Mentoring lasts between 6 months and 1 year.

Results and evaluation

The programme was first implemented during the second half of 2018, so a full evaluation has not yet been completed. However, the public’s reaction has been very positive.

Funding

This programme is financed entirely by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Government of Catalonia). Mentors who take part in the program do so on a voluntary basis. The government provides for the training and makes sure that the mentors have a professional whom they can rely on. The annual budget is approximately €700,000.

Further information

Website of the practice