09 Jun SSD Progress in Spain
The SSD phase of the MIICT project has continued its development in Spain through update of information and testing of the IMMERSE platform by service providers and migrants via the various activities planned. Despite the COVID-19 situation, all the activities were carried out smoothly with flexibility in adapting the sessions to face-to-face or virtual formats depending on the health situation being essential to the success of the project.
During March 2021, 66 introductory questionnaires were successfully filled in (31 by migrants, 22 by NGOs and 13 by service providers) and two focus group sessions were carried out in the week of 22-26 March. The first session was held face-to-face on the premises of the Euroarab Foundation with 7 men and 3 women of different nationalities, including Morocco, Yemen, Colombia, El Salvador, Russia, Libya and Venezuela. Another focus group with service providers was conducted online with seven people from different organisations. In April 2021 eight individual interviews were held with service providers, experts and migrants, two of them online and the other six face-to-face. The participants were selected according to criteria such as time spent on the platform and knowledge of the informational pillars and services provided, to obtain accurate and quality feedback information. Among migrants, two women and two men, the nationalities represented were Venezuela, El Salvador and Colombia.
Currently, the second round of the focus groups is taking place, with eight migrants in a face-to-face session and 11 persons from public entities and NGOs as service providers online.
According to the participants’ impressions, IMMERSE’s practicality and usefulness are its hallmarks. They highlighted as strengths the frequent updating of information and services, in particular on employment and training, and the reliable information provided. Participants agree that the IMMERSE platform is enhancing their learning and saves time and efforts compared to a situation where they would not have access to this kind of system. They consider that IMMERSE platform is a good opportunity for migrants’ integration and also a useful tool to help them to find job opportunities in Spain.