Dianova Opens a Reception Center for Migrants

Ceuta border fence - source Wikipedia

 

Dianova Santa Lucía center (Madrid region) helps immigrants in their efforts to integrate society

Many countries from Southern Europe must face an increasing number of illegal immigrants stemming from Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, in the aftermath of the popular uprisings in the Arab world and the intervention in Libya. This immigration upsurge has been accompanied by tragedies that have caused great public outcry and forced the governments to take action.

However between a brutal repression for those who attempt to pass the borders and timid humanitarian initiatives for those who have succeeded in doing so, European policies lack an objective, long-term vision of the migratory question. Immigration is an opportunity for old Europe’s changing demographics; that’s not including the fact that no repressive policy, no physical barrier, has ever been successful in stopping the flow of migrants in search of better opportunities.

The only method to manage immigration is to implement a European-wide policy which permits not only to regulate migration flows but also to foster integration in host countries while implementing development projects in emigration countries.

Dianova Opens Center for Humanitarian Assistance

Santa LucíaIn recent years, the coasts of Spain began to face an increase upsurge in migration, in particular through the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla in Morocco. This predicament led to the need to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to those migrants, in order to meet their basic needs. This program is financed by the General Directorate of Migrations of the Spanish government.

Since August 27, the association Dianova Spain joined this initiative and transformed its Santa Lucía center (Madrid region) in a humanitarian assistance facility for immigrants in conditions of vulnerability. Dianova’s humanitarian center aims to provide shelter in addition to comprehensive support services to meet the beneficiaries’ basic needs (board and housing and social integration support services).

StaffBeneficiaries are most often immigrants facing situations of extreme vulnerability, threatened by physical deterioration and a lack of family and social support, in addition to having no economic resources.

True to its core values, in particular in terms of individual intervention and person-centered comprehensive care, the Dianova facility ensures the development of a reception and integration plan for each one of the program’s beneficiaries, based on individualized objectives for each intervention domain (social, judicial, vocational, etc.). The Dianova center provides immigrants with individualized support destined to develop self-reliance and accountability and promote integration.

More information about the Spanish government’s humanitarian aid program

Services

  •   Board and housing
  •   Follow up and social integration
  •   Personal development: cognitive, emotional and behavioral abilities so as to promote personal well-being and social functioning, self-esteem, self-reliance
  •   Development of personal protection factors
  •   Psychological counseling
  •   Legal counseling
  •   Training: positive life habits (hygiene, food, sports, etc.)
  •   Coping with at-risk attitudes related to substance use, sexual practices, etc.
  •   HIV, and other sexual or blood-borne infections
  •   Spanish language
  •   Knowledge of Spanish society (geography, history, culture)
  •   Others: library, occupational, cultural and leisure activities