BRIEF 1 WHAT DESIGN CAN DO TO IMPROVE SHELTERS AND RECEPTION CENTRES

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1 BRIEF 1 WHAT DESIGN CAN DO TO IMPROVE SHELTERS AND RECEPTION CENTRES The challenge Large shelter areas are opening to accommodate all the refugees arriving in Europe today. Old schools, offices and even prisons are being transformed into temporary housing units. Refugees live in crowded conditions and face a lack of privacy, often for months, if not more than a year. Also, though more than one in three of the refugees seeking asylum are children, current facilities are rarely child-friendly. At the same time, local communities are overwhelmed by the many refugees in their neighbourhood. Often, the little interaction between the two groups is a missed opportunity for quick integration. The upshot is that integration has yet to start once asylum is granted, which results in additional frustration and costs for everybody involved. The opportunity Experts argue for the creation of decentralized and smaller shelters that facilitate better integration within society from the start. Designers are capable of envisioning solutions that take various and sometimes conflicting interests into account. The multiple stakeholders affected by this problem can benefit from the co-creation skills of designers. Can we imagine a shelter that is an asset for both refugees and the local population? And how could such a shelter facilitate interaction between the two? Think, for instance, of possible interventions within the realms of architecture, interior design, service design or even public space design. Consider how you can strengthen, build on or enhance the best things already happening, or come up with an entirely new and great idea! SUBMIT YOUR IDEA FOR THIS BRIEF

2 WHAT DESIGN CAN DO REFUGEE CHALLENGE THE FIVE BRIEFS 1. WHAT DESIGN CAN DO TO IMPROVE SHELTERS AND RECEPTION CENTRES 2. WHAT DESIGN CAN DO TO FOSTER PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT WHILE WAITING FOR ASYLUM 3. WHAT DESIGN CAN DO TO BRING REFUGEES AND HOST COMMUNITIES CLOSER TO ONE ANOTHER 4. WHAT DESIGN CAN DO TO EXCHANGE ESSENTIAL INFORMATION WITH REFUGEES 5: WHAT DESIGN CAN DO TO MAXIMIZE THE POTENTIAL OF REFUGEES ASYLUM GRANTED APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP VOLUNTARY RETURN TO HOME COUNTRY ARRIVAL CLAIM FOR ASYLUM EMERGENCY SHELTER RECEPTION CENTRE IRREGULAR STAY REJECTION APPEAL FINAL REJECTION FORCED RETURN TO HOME COUNTRY

3 EXPLORATION OF THEMES To shape the briefs, extensive desk and field research was done to identify what experts say urgently needs to be addressed, and how these issues relate to what refugees themselves experience. These two perspectives led to important themes such as work, health and education, which were used to collect relevant background articles and personal stories. This information is accessible if you enter the challenge, to make a quick start with your own research and get a first impression of the context. Even though it would be tempting to create separate briefs related to each theme, in reality the themes overlap and are interrelated, and the most pressing issues facing refugees relate to several of the themes, as indicated in each brief. You are encouraged to take an holistic approach, research several themes for the brief you choose, and figure out how the themes connect around your chosen brief. The best solutions will probably respond to several of the themes. BASIC NEEDS HEALTH CONNECTION TO HOME MOBILITY FINANCE WORK EDUCATION & TRAINING INTEGRATION

4 THEME 1 BASIC NEEDS The context Basic needs, or a person s livelihood, refers to their means of securing the basic necessities of life: water, food, clothing and shelter. Amer: Upon arrival, refugees are generally accommodated in temporary shelters until their request for asylum is processed. This can take several months or even years. Families often get a private house unit, while refugees travelling alone get to share a house unit with others. Having a safe home is an urgent necessity for refugees. Refugee shelters, and especially emergency shelters, provide for the minimum needs but often lack privacy, meaningful pursuits, and freedom of choice (food, clothing). Refugees are dependent on what is provided to them by NGOs and volunteers. The quality of these shelters varies from country to country across Europe, and can even differ within a single city. Refugees might hear about better conditions somewhere else, but are, by law, not allowed to choose their shelter or move to another one. They might, however, be moved to other shelters, as a result of authorities trying to distribute refugees better across the available shelters. After the status is granted, refugees can get access to social housing. This, however, takes time, and the available housing can be in a totally different area to where they have spent their time while their request for asylum was pending. From there they can finally make a new start and try to become self-sustainable. When I arrived at Central Reception Centre I was very tired. Unfortunately the centre was full. So during the first three days I couldn t shower and had to sleep on a table.

5 E NATIONAL F EU C NGOS THEME 1 BASIC NEEDS D LOCAL REFUGEES & CHILDREN B LOCAL COMMUNITY Interests & needs of stakeholders A. Refugees & Children Create the best possible living space for themselves and their family Regain independence and control and become self-sufficient Need to adapt to people from various nationalities and religions living in the same shelter B. Local Community Involvement in provision of donations and support Apprehensive of the effect of allocating social housing to refugees C. NGOs Coordinate efforts of volunteers Lobby for change in policy D. Local Authorities Open flexible shelters to accommodate growing demand and cater for periods of low occupation Distribute available social housing Control housing costs (construction and management) Maintain a good atmosphere among citizens E. National Authorities Distribute refugees evenly across cities and neighbourhoods Discourage economic refugees by keeping shelters basic Control costs related to the provision of basic refugee needs F. EU Authorities Distribute the refugees evenly across countries Create standards

6 WHAT DESIGN CAN DO REFUGEE CHALLENGE AMER - ARRIVING IN THE NETHERLANDS AMER Amer arrived in Europe six months ago. He initially left his wife and daughter in Turkey, but a couple of months later they came as well. They now live together in an asylum seekers centre. PEOPLE / AIDS INVOLVED CENTRAL RECEPTION LOCATION IMMIGRATION CENTRAL RECEPTION LOCATION Arrival ACTIVITIES When I arrived at the central reception location, I was very tired. Unfortunately the center was full and for the first 3 days I couldn t shower and had to sleep on a table. After three days I had an interview with the Immigration authorities. I was allowed to stay and went to another asylum seekers center. In the asylum seekers centre I had stomach problems from the food. I got paracetamol, as in the centre, people with pain only get paracetamol. When my wife and daughter came to the central reception center, they experienced the same thing. My wife was very tired and in pain, but she received very little help. I called the emergency number but they couldn t come. Finally when she arrived in the asylum seekers centre, she received medical help. Source: Workshop

7 WHAT DESIGN CAN DO REFUGEE CHALLENGE ANOUAR - FINDING A MORE TOLERANT PLACE TO LIVE PEOPLE / AIDS INVOLVED ANOUAR Anouar comes from Morocco. He knew he was gay from a very young age, but in his home country, homosexual acts are punishable by law. Anouar s life became very difficult. He decided to leave and seek a more tolerant place to live and arrived in the UK. IMMIGRATION DETENTION IMMIGRATION HOMELESS HOSTEL HOME OFFICE LOCAL COLLEGE Arrival ACTIVITIES He claimed asylum on reaching the UK, but was immediately detained. He spent the next four months in three different detention centres. Eventually he was released, but life outside was no better. His asylum claim was refused and he quickly became homeless. For a short time, he found a safe haven at a homeless hostel. There he met Ilyas, who fled Tunisia during the Arab Spring after coming under threat for his political activities. Despite having been together for eighteen months, they re six months short of the two year period required to be recognised as a couple by the Home Office. This means that even though they are entitled to safe accommodation, they could be sent to different cities. Despite their uncertain future, both men are upbeat, studying English and other free courses at a local college. In the UK they say they are free to be open about their relationship. I just want to be able to stay in the UK, get my papers sorted and get a job and stay together with Anouar, Ilyas says. Source:

8 WHAT DESIGN CAN DO REFUGEE CHALLENGE MOHAMMET - FINDING A PLACE TO LIVE MOHAMMET Mohammet fled Syria nine months ago and applied for asylum in the Netherlands. PEOPLE / AIDS INVOLVED NEWS Arrival ACTIVITIES When I arrived in the Netherlands I applied for asylum. I lived in several asylum seekers centres and was granted my refugee status 6 months ago. I was assigned a place to live in Arnhem but it was not the right place for me. I wanted to live in Rotterdam, because I want to study Media at the Erasmus University. It was difficult to find a home there. At first I lived in a house in Rotterdam that had a leaking roof. The house where I live now is alright, although I think houses in the Netherlands, especially rental homes, are not well designed. I was a bit shocked when I saw the homes, as compared to Damascus they are small and not practical. th pain only get paracetamol. When I watch the news there is so much negative coverage on refugees and centres that it makes me feel less safe. I think understanding the culture better may give me a better understanding. Source: Workshop

9 WHAT DESIGN CAN DO REFUGEE CHALLENGE ANONYMOUS REFUGEE - LIFE AT THE ASYLUM ANONYMOUS REFUGEE PEOPLE / AIDS INVOLVED This female refugee lives with her husband in a asylum centre. This is the fourth asylum centre where they have been placed. CENTRAL AGENCY FOR THE RECEPTION OF REFUGEES OTHER INHABITANTS OF THE Arrival ACTIVITIES When we came to this asylum centre there was enough space. The facilities were new and everything was clean. There is no privacy. In this place, life stands still. You cannot and are not allowed to do anything. Tension is building up. People feel they are losing their time here. It s hard to sleep here, the building is very noisy. Some people only go to bed at three and the ones that want to sleep earlier are kept awake by the noise: loud talking, slamming doors.the lack of sleep makes you irritable. I once sent the central agency for the reception of refugees a letter with points I thought should be improved. I never got a reply on it. Luckily within a month my husband and I can leave the Asylum Seekers Center and get our own place to live. We can look for a job and finally continue our lives. There is a one bright side of the experience of living in a Asylum Seekers Center: I have the feeling that I can handle everything for the rest of my life. Source:

10 WHAT DESIGN CAN DO REFUGEE CHALLENGE EXPERT ANNE LE MORVILLE EXPERT ANNE LE MORVILLE Expert on refugee healthcare. Wrote a Phd about the effect of the disrupted daily occupation on refugees MOST ARE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT DOES NOT SUPPORT THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE AND PARTICIPATE IN OCCUPATIONS WHICH REDUCES THEIR CHOICE AND RANGE OF OCCUPATIONS AVAILABLE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY REDUCES HEALTH AND WELL-BEING. A quote from: Le Morville, A. Daily occupations among asylum seekers, 2014

11 WHAT DESIGN CAN DO REFUGEE CHALLENGE ANONYMOUS REFUGEE ANONYMOUS REFUGEE 25 year old man, fled from Iran I WANT TO STAY HERE AND LIVE A NORMAL LIFE, LIKE OTHERS. I WANT TO BE SURE THAT I M IN A SAFE PLACE. I WANT PEACE AND QUIET NOW. THIS IS ALL I WANT. A quote from: Le Morville, A. Daily occupations among asylum seekers, 2014

12 WHAT DESIGN CAN DO REFUGEE CHALLENGE RASHA RASHA Rasha arrived in the Netherlands from Syria in September She is staying in a refugee centre and is yet to apply for asylum. EVERY DAY IT S POTATOES. SOMETIMES DRY RICE. WE AREN T ALLOWED TO KEEP FOOD OR COOK IN OUR ROOMS. WE ASK THEM TO CHANGE THE FOOD BUT IT S ALWAYS THE SAME. A quote from: Personal Communication

13 THEME 8 INTEGRATION The context Arriving in a host country means arriving in a totally new culture, with a new language, new customs and new (unwritten) codes. In order to participate in this new society, refugees need to integrate in the new culture. Inas: After a while, we were offered a house. No one really spoke to us when we moved there. The fact that I wore a hijab wasn t helping. That s why I took it off, to get more of a connection with the people in my area. Authorities often provide basic education to refugees in the form of languag and integration courses. Learning the new language is really key: the need to understand and speak the host country s language is immediate from the perspective of the refugees. However, access to language courses differs among European countries, and some countries only provide language courses after a status has been granted. Putting these basic courses into practice and connecting with the local population is another challenge. Life in a refugee shelter is quite protected: everything is provided and making contact with the local community is difficult. Therefore real integration often starts at the moment the asylum request has been granted and refugees have their own living space and can become independent again. Better and earlier integration would be beneficial on many levels. For refugees obviously, as it would enable them to really start building a new life and future. Also, better integration could also alleviate existing prejudices by establishing personal contacts between host communities and refugees and thereby help build stability in future societies.

14 C THEME 8 INTEGRATION Interests & needs of stakeholders A. Refugees Learn the language Understand the host-country culture and codes Build a social network Become part of local community B. Local Community Polarized debate: Some might have negative prejudices while others might want to help C. NGOs Support the quick integration of refugees (formal and informal) Offer trainings D. Local Authorities Facilitate access to formal education systems Ensure smooth integration for both refugees and local community E. National Authorities Integration before a status is granted is in some countries seen as a risk: refugees might settle too quickly and stay for too long Stimulate integration through education & training F. Media Important role in shaping opinions NGOS E NATIONAL D REFUGEES B LOCAL COMMUNITY LOCAL F MEDIA INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND BRIEF PROCESS CONDITIONS RESEARCH CREDITS

15 WHAT DESIGN CAN DO REFUGEE CHALLENGE HASHEEM - GETTING HELP WITH MY PTSD PEOPLE / AIDS INVOLVED HASHEEM In 2013 Hasheem and his family fled to Egypt after Hasheem had been locked and tortured in the Syrian jails. But in post-revolutionary Egypt, stability was hard to find, so in April 2015 Hasheem left to Sweden to find asylum for his family. IMMIGRATION IMMIGRATION IMMIGRATION IMMIGRATION Arrival ACTIVITIES I arrived in Sweden six months ago. I applied for asylum at the office of the Migrationsverket. They were friendly to me; for the first time in my life I felt a government was treating me like a human being. I was taken to a disused hotel for permanent lodgings. From the outside the building looked nice, but the inside reminded me of the Syrian jails I ve been tortured in. I tried to explain to the staff of the Migrationsverket that the rooms brought back memories but there was no interpreter so they couldn't understand me. They left and since they only come once a week I had to deal with it on my own. The week after the migration agency returned, I tried to explain my case again, yet again no one understood me. I was embarrassed.. This happened for four weeks until at one point they finally understood my problems and I got a private room. Source:

16 WHAT DESIGN CAN DO REFUGEE CHALLENGE AMER - INTEGRATION AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING AMER Amer arrived in the Netherlands six months ago. He initially left his wife and daughter in Turkey, but a couple of months later they came as well. They now live together in an asylum seekers centre. PEOPLE / AIDS INVOLVED INTERNET Arrival ACTIVITIES I think learning Dutch is important but in the asylum seekers centre no education is offered. That is why for the past six months, I ve thought myself one word a day. I used the internet and Youtube to teach myself Dutch words. Besides Dutch I also want to learn about the culture and traditions of the Netherlands. I think that is important if I want to make a new life here. Now that I have been here for six months I learned some basic words and I have been through all the procedures of the system : requesting a citizen service number and bank account for example. My room is now called the office because I help new refugees with their procedures in the system and with the Dutch language. Source: Workshop

17 WHAT DESIGN CAN DO REFUGEE CHALLENGE HALAT - CREATING OCCUPATION OPPORTUNITIES HALAT Halat fled Iraq in 1988 and initially spend 3 years in a camp in Turkey. But eventually it wasn t safe anymore there either and she fled again. PEOPLE / AIDS INVOLVED LOCAL PRIMARY SCHOOL UNIVERSITY Arrival ACTIVITIES Our life in the asylum centre was difficult: you have to start over again. I could speak a little English, but not very well. And there is nothing to do. You cannot go to school, work, or take language courses. I understand that they want to figure it all out before you get a residence permit. But the waiting feels long if you cannot do anything. I wanted to belong. I did everything I could to help out in the asylum seeker centre: Making coffee, looking after all the children. I wrote down every word I saw, just to learn the language. In 1994, we got a resident permit. I immediately took language classes and started volunteering at my children s school. My husband and I were very eager to get work. You do not want to be dependent on benefits. I also wanted to give my children a bright future. And now, my eldest just started a degree in Health Sciences. I m so proud! One day, I would like to finish my training as well. In Iraq I started my studies to become a judge. Source:

18 WHAT DESIGN CAN DO REFUGEE CHALLENGE SIROMI SIROMI Siromi is 15 and fled Sri Lanka with her family. I WORK REALLY HARD AT SCHOOL AND LEARN EVERY NIGHT. NO ONE SPEAKS OUR LANGUAGE THERE SO I NEED TO LEARN TO SPEAK TO OTHERS. EVERY NIGHT I WORK HARD SO THAT I AM AHEAD OF MY CLASS. A quote from:

19 WHAT DESIGN CAN DO REFUGEE CHALLENGE AKRAM AKRAM Came from Syria last year, and is currently staying in a shelter while he waits to apply for asylum. WE AREN T ALL ANGELS. BUT DUTCH PEOPLE ARE ALSO NOT ALL ANGELS, BRITISH PEOPLE ARE NOT ALL ANGELS. THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME BAD PEOPLE AMONG US, WE CAN T HELP THAT. BUT WE AREN T ALL THE SAME. A quote from: Personal Communication

20 WHAT DESIGN CAN DO REFUGEE CHALLENGE EXPERT EXPERT Expert in municipal policy. RESTRICTION OF RIGHTS AND POSSIBILITIES IN THE EARLY STAGES LEADS TO BIGGER EFFORT AND INVESTMENT FOR LATER SUCCESSFUL INTEGRATION. A quote from : Workshop