–   BEFORE THE WORKSHOP: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO LEARN FROM THIS SESSION

To meet all of the participants and to learn the basics/starts/numbers of migration in this region.

–   AFTER THE WORKSHOP: WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

It was great speaking to Alessandra and getting a local prospective.

I learnt now the Italian system works, how it functions in regards to projects and who is running them. It was interesting to speak to someone who is working the system to see how it works in practice us policy.

–   SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

It was a bit difficult with the translations as this always means presentations/discussion take twice as long- which is fine but it would be good if this was factored into the agenda.

–   WHAT DID YOU LIKE THE MOST

It was great to visit the Caritas centre in the evening to meet the staff /volunteers. It was great to see how they work on the ground and the services they are providing. It was impressive to see how organised it was considering the huge amount of service users they have!

–   BEFORE THE WORKSHOP: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO LEARN FROM THIS SESSION

I wasn’t sure what to expect as I hadn’t done much research into Riace.

–   AFTER THE WORKSHOP: WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

That is possible for migrants/locals to live in harmony! We have a lot to learn from this place and would be great to see some of these policies implemented on a more regional/European scale. Who are landing in Italy and where they are coming from. What happens after they actually land.

–   SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

I understand that this is difficult and out of the control of the project coordinators but it would have been nice to have time to ask questions to the major. However this was a great day so only a very small suggestion.

–   WHAT DID YOU LIKE THE MOST

Meeting the migrants/locals Riace was an incredible place. Seeing a functioning village with over 20 nationalities and 50% refugee/migrant population!!

–   BEFORE THE WORKSHOP: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO LEARN FROM THIS SESSION

To gain a more in depth understanding of the situation in Southern Europe.

See how this works as opposed to other European countries.

–   AFTER THE WORKSHOP: WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

I knew very little about sea arrivals into Spain and the methods put in place to prevent it. That was new and very interesting!

–   SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

–   WHAT DID YOU LIKE THE MOST

Hearing from Alessandra was very interesting. The free afternoon was great. It was nice to see some more parts of southern Italy. Please keep this in the programme if you do this trip again!

–   BEFORE THE WORKSHOP: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO LEARN FROM THIS SESSION

Methods of social inclusion and ways of prevent radicalisation. Mental health services for refugees and asylum seekers. Social inclusion and now this works with varying religions.

–   AFTER THE WORKSHOP: WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

The continuing issues and challenges to integration! This was very clear after speaking with the Iman.

–   SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

I work in the UK immigration sector. I have a very good understanding of integration, mental health, issues etc there.  I didn’t need any presentations based on the UK. It would have been good to have focused these on Italy or somewhere else in southern Europe.

It would have been good if the presentations facilitated some discussion or shared learning rather than us being spoken to. Perhaps a presentation from the Germany’s would have been better to learn from the experience.

–   WHAT DID YOU LIKE THE MOST

The Imam was a good example of the challenge that Italy face in terms of acceptance and integration. Both the host nation and the migrants. Both need to accept and work with each other’s differences. It was a difficult session which highlights the importance of good integration policies and projects.

–   BEFORE THE WORKSHOP: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO LEARN FROM THIS SESSION

To experience more integration through the visit. The situation in Sicily through a fist hand experience. Integration in Calabria.

–   AFTER THE WORKSHOP: WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

It was nice to meet some migrants and see the town now they are being supported.

–   SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

The session on culture was good. However most of us are migrants or work with migrants. I think we all have a good understanding of culture and differences. I think this would have been good for people who are new to the sector. I was hoping to learn something new. We all have interesting experience it would have been better to have interesting in depth conversation and shared learning. Maybe something on how to work or manage cultural differences. I would have preferred that to have had a shorter morning session and have been able to see the reception centre in the afternoon. Although I understand that these things don’t always go as planned.

–   WHAT DID YOU LIKE THE MOST

It was really good to hear from Eulalia about her experience supporting Refugees in regard to mental health. It was good to see how another village was welcoming more migrants and get touched with them.

–   BEFORE THE WORKSHOP: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO LEARN FROM THIS SESSION

How the sector works and deals with such huge numbers on the ground.

–   AFTER THE WORKSHOP: WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

How this country is dealing with the challenges of supporting large number of people despite not always having funding. Involvement of the community. How the system works and function in the UK and the different migration stages.

Amazed by the volunteers!

How real the issue are. To see if first hand makes it so much more personal.

This is happening everyday in huge numbers.

–   SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

I would have liked to have volunteered or proved some assistance to those in need. Even if we could have bought some food for the homes/centres we visited. I did at times feel like we were invading people’s privacy.  Perhaps we could have gone for lunch with them instead. It was certainly confronting visiting the port. I wanted to help though and just felt that me starting at them would have made them feel worse.

–   WHAT DID YOU LIKE THE MOST

I certainly feel more motivated to keep working and supporting this sector. Seeing these situations in real life as opposed to the tv/papers has a much bigger affect. So I understand why we were taken here.

–   BEFORE THE WORKSHOP: WHAT DO YOU EXPECT TO LEARN FROM THIS SESSION

The situation in Sicily

–   AFTER THE WORKSHOP: WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

The reality of the situation in Sicily. I took a lot away from Ivan’s presentation.

–   SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

It was really nice to hear from Claudia’s first-hand experience. Her presentations are engaging and get people talking. I would love to have heard more from her.

–   WHAT DID YOU LIKE THE MOST

Ivan’s presentation was excellent. If you do this again you should definitely get him in again! Claudia was fantastic! Really interesting information.

The programme was fantastic. Ii really did learn a lot from both the presentations and through conversations with the other participants.