Meeting with a Swedish researcher
Here is the notice of a meeting with a Swedish researcher participating in the study of migration of A10 citizens in the UK.
After a short introduction Barka representatives (Marta Jankowska and Janusz Smura) passed information about the work of assistants and leaders of Barka UK working in the Reconnection Program in London as well as outside of the capital and briefly described the history of BARKA Foundation in Poland. We talked about BARKA’s programs on preventing and overcoming homelessness and returning to society including Schools of Social Animation, Clubs of Social Integration, Centres for Social Integration, Centres of Social Economy, social cooperatives, self-employment in social enterprises, community houses, conducting AA and self-help groups.
Barka staff then longer spoke about all three programs of Barka in UK (Reconnections, Employment/Integration with Labour Market program and Training). Most of the questions concerned the Reconnection project, BARKA’s partnerships with A10 Consulates and Embassies, House of Lords, UK Government, local councils, outreach teams and other UK and A10 NGOs as well as our work at the day centres.
Barka staff explained that some of the Eastern European migrants in UK who became homeless, rough sleepers or addicted are directed to BARKA communities and other partner organizations in Poland and Eastern Europe and after completed treatments they enrol in a variety of integration and social entrepreneurship programs to exit from homelessness and return to society.
The meeting was very fruitful and Barka invited the guests for a study visit to Barka Foundation and the Barka Network in Poland. Janusz Smura also mentioned the migration research projects implemented within Barka’s Civic Institute for Monitoring and Recommendations.
Janusz Smura and Marta Jankowska
Leader and Assistant of Barka UK reconnection Project in the City of London and Tower Hamlets