In recent years, Europe has seen an increase in migration flows from diverse regions, each with a unique culture and specific challenges in integrating into a new social, economic and cultural context. While migrants enrich the cultural and economic fabric of host countries, they face significant barriers to full inclusion, making the process challenging for many.

The situation in Spain

Spain has become a key destination for many migrants, especially women from Latin America, Africa and Asia. The integration of these women is marked by obstacles that limit access to stable employment, education and social services. Language barriers and lack of local networks often create a sense of isolation and make it difficult to access basic services. In addition, cultural stereotypes and prejudices aggravate their marginalisation, making their inclusion even more difficult.

GEINNOVA’s commitment
GEINNOVA has long promoted social inclusion and support for vulnerable groups, including migrant women. The organisation focuses on skills development and empowerment, providing practical resources and innovative models for sustainable integration.

The SOULFOOD Project
Within the Erasmus+ programme, the SOULFOOD project is dedicated to promoting the social and labour integration of migrant women through culinary training and cultural exchange. Through modular educational pathways, SOULFOOD helps these women to overcome cultural and linguistic barriers, equipping them with culinary skills that can facilitate their integration into the labour market and improve their digital literacy.

SOULFOOD project activities:

• Analysis and collection of good practices: Creation of a repository with successful initiatives of cultural integration through cooking.
• Intercultural events and culinary meetings
• Modular educational itinerary
• Digital tools and guides for educators
• Pilot training sessions

Towards inclusive and sustainable integration
SOULFOOD represents an innovative approach to overcoming the challenges faced by migrant women. By focusing on culinary training and digital skills development, the project helps these women build confidence, achieve economic independence and actively participate in community life. With the support of initiatives such as SOULFOOD, migrant women can move towards a more inclusive society that recognises and values their contribution.

In recent years, emigration has been confirmed as one of the greatest burdens on our society, with people from disadvantaged backgrounds seeking a better economic and social status in the hope of fitting into today’s society. The NAVI-MIG project has therefore been set up with the aim of addressing this problem and helping these migrants to integrate in the host countries and create a mutually beneficial environment for both the fugitives and the host countries.

On 4 July 2024 at the Patronato Católico Benéfico Social de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores in Zaragoza, an event was held to spread awareness on the issue of migrant integration and how the EU co-funded project NAVI-MIG has been able to address it. During this event different topics were discussed, such as access to essential services, social support, health care and social inclusion.

The idea of the NAVI-MIG project came as a contribution to the inclusion and integration of newly arrived migrants, especially after the UNICEF report published in January 2021, which states that despite the consequences of the pandemic, migration has not decreased and social inclusion has not been promoted at all. According to the project’s values, the successful integration of migrants into the EU labour market represents an opportunity for our societies, so it will be essential to start tackling the problem and thinking about practical solutions.
The event, organised by the Spanish organisation of the project (GEINNOVA), has provided the opportunity to disseminate useful results which, taking into account the central role of the topic in the EU territory, could lead to concrete results and benefits. These tools (e.g. a mobile phone application for migrants and e-learning material in the form of a curriculum based on the needs of the target group) are aimed at people in need of support and looking for another chance to fit into a society that is difficult to integrate.

NAVI-MIG will improve the chances for migrants to successfully integrate into the labour market through a training programme and the e-inclusion platform, which will be evidenced by the employment success of the training participants, improve migrants’ knowledge of the local labour market and also foster inclusion and integration processes through the exchange and dissemination of good practices among the partners and their networks.

Access more information with this link

On 2 and 11 July, GEINNOVA held two face-to-face training sessions in Galicia and the Canary Islands for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Rural Tourism, in the first case for local agents and in the second for vulnerable groups.

This training completes Module 3a and 3b of the RETTURN project developed by the FAMP (Andalusian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces) for the Creation of Tourism Experiences based on traditions in rural areas to enhance and safeguard intangible heritage, promoting territorial cohesion in our regions, and therefore in our country.

Among the objectives are:

1. To build and articulate stories that are the basis of inspiring experiences that can be enjoyed in different parts of the country, but with a common thread: the enhancement and visibility of traditions and customs in danger of extinction.
2. Implement pilot programmes for the generation of coherent tourism experiences adapted to the different territorial realities.
3. Promote actions to be developed in each territory to involve local agents and disadvantaged groups, thus guaranteeing the positive impact of tourism experiences on local rural communities.
4. To implement a technological solution for the communication and marketing of the Experiences Tourism Tradition of Rural Spain.

The conferences were very dynamic and collaborative, with 20 people attending in person and 250 online in Galicia. In the case of Gran Canaria there were 10 face-to-face and 180 online.

Don’t miss our news to find out about conferences like these!