+Solutions in Austria
SINGA
Nathanael Molle (Fellow) / Alexandra Alden (Singa Spain)
Founded by Ashoka Fellow Nathanael Molle
The Problem
Every year, thousands of people are forced to flee their homes, cities, friends and countries to seek refuge in other countries. After a long and often dangerous journey, these men and women apply for the protection of other states. Unfortunately, even though they had no choice but to leave their homeland, they are rarely welcomed in the countries where they settle. The incoming flight migrants are often perceived as a cost to local taxpayers and as a potential source of social tension or unrest.
The Solution
SINGA is a community of professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, athletes, dancers, singers, students, or in short, a community of human beings. It brings together people who want to get to know and understand each other better and build a better society for themselves. The project develops a sense of community with migrants and local citizens, and as such helps further integration and change perspectives. The various SINGA programmes across Europe aim to organise and facilitate opportunities to meet others within the SINGA community.
The Impact
SINGA operates in France, Morocco, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Quebec and recently started in Barcelona. It has connected many people to facilitate change in the perspective of a population that mainly views refugees as a problem.
Mother School (Women Without Borders)
Edit Schlaffer
Founded by Ashoka Fellow Edit Schlaffer
The Problem
Frontline communities and families in centres of extremism are often confronted with discrimination, socio-economic inequality and violence. As a result, many adolescents become vulnerable to radicalisation and extremist recruitment.
The Solution
Women Without Borders’s Mother School brings out the powerful potential of mothers to prevent radicalisation within their families and to become ambassadors for de-radicalisation in their communities. The model allows women to form the missing link between the community level, where radical ideas are propagated, and decision-making levels, where strategies against extremism take shape. Mother School provides a safe space for women, in which self-awareness, expression and self-empowerment are appreciated and encouraged. Based in Austria, Mother School is an integral part of international and local counter extremism strategies. The project builds a united front of prepared family members, who become well-equipped to tackle the growing problem of violent extremism at home.
The Impact
Mother School operates in Austria, Yemen, India, Pakistan, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Turkey, Cyprus, Zambia, and online around the world.
Uugot.it
Philipp Etzlinger
The Problem
Language is the key for integration and one of the greatest obstacles for migrants upon arrival in a new country. 82% of Foreign language learners (worldwide) stated that they learn a language through watching television (fyi: Study by Kaplan International; 2012). However, there are no professional solutions to assist users, turning them from passive consumers into active learners.
The Solution
uugot.it enables language learning through watching television, as it adds interactive same language subtitles to each broadcast, at request users translate the words with a simple click.. The solution includes an app-based language course to learn new vocabulary, by which it helps users retain what they have learned and, by offering access to the public discourse of the local society, uugot.it boosts the integration process of migrants. uugot.it enhances the existing content of broadcasting companies and inceases the public value of broadcasters. With uugot.it television becomes an educational resource.
The Impact
uugot.it has negotiated major partnerships with major language learning institutes across Austria and is partnering with NGOs who help with the distribution of the uugot.it TV. The project is currently connecting with schools to become part of their programme and foster inclusion within the education system.
Help2Day
Michael Blin
The Problem
There is little communication between existing projects and volunteer initiatives, which makes supporting refugees in their process of arrival and settlement more difficult. Additionally, there are a lot of people, organisations and companies that are wanting to provide help, but do not know what they could do or how.
The Solution
Help2Day is an initiative that aims to improve the communication between NGOs working with refugees, and the volunteers and supporters. Help2Day provides an online platform and app that help to allocate different resources more efficiently. The organisation aims to work with all major welfare entities in Austria, making the app a one-stop-shop for the management of free resources in Austria.
Dahir
Georg and Dagmar Kotzmuth
The Problem
There are two major problems within the real estate industry that make it harder for refugees and other migrants to find housing. A lack of trust between property owners or managers and disadvantaged groups presents a systemic problem, which leads to discrimination and racketeering from landlords towards migrants. Additionally, there is no affordable housing available for disadvantaged groups, who have no access to social housing and end up competing with people in similar difficult situations. The competition between migrants and lower working-class populations lead to increased tension between these groups and many people end up living in inhumane conditions as a result.
The Solution
The traditional approach to provide affordable housing has reached its limits and often leaves migrants out of the equation. Dahir develops a new market for housing which is based on community and trust. In this model, private-market properties become accessible to formerly underserved communities, bridging the gap between property owners/managers and disadvantaged communities. The tenants are invited to become co-creators of their own living space; through which properties become valued based on both their financial and their relational qualities. With this approach, the project aims to change the mindset and practice of property managers and owners.
The Impact
The project managed help 16 refugee families (68 individuals) find humane living spaces. This has fostered social integration, as these groups live alongside 164 tenants with other backgrounds and 2 recent migrants have been employed as caretakers and community managers of the property. The project has led to research in this field and been taken on as a strategy in practical education for property management. Dahir is currently working with large stakeholders to implement these strategies more widely.
Conclusio
Johannes Brandl
The Problem
Migrants and other refugees find themselves in new countries with limited access to jobs. Austrian rural communities do not provide an environment for meaningful engagement or employment, thus leading to segregation between newcomers and the local community.
The Solution
Conclusio employs refugees that lack access to the labour market. They become part of a network that does community work and are paid through a time-sharing system. The project allows individuals to engage in purposeful work within the hosting community, whilst gaining access to German language courses, cooking classes and other activities or encounters provided by members of the community.
The Impact
Conclusio has reached out to political decision-makers and public authorities to help this project impact communities more widely and on a larger scale.
More Than One Perspective
Julian Richter, Nina Poxleitner, Lisa-Maria Sommer
The Problem
Many refugees and migrants are highly educated professionals, but unable to carry out their profession upon arrival in Austria. Lacking certain skills and connections to local networks, they are not able to find the right employer.
The Solution
More Than One Perspective supports refugees and migrants that have an academic (or similar) background on their way into the labour market. The project aims to demonstrate that refugees are valuable assets for the host countries, if given the opportunity to be employed in their field of expertise. MTOP also works with the company side and supports executives to leverage on diversity and help to overcome prejudices.
The Impact
Currently, More Than One Perspective works with over 80 companies. 70% of the project’s alumni have been able to find work due to the network.