FEAD 2018 Catalogue of case studies

For more information regarding the project, contact E-mail: info@kfvn.se WHO? The Association of Local Authorities in Västernorrland County (ALAV) is responsible for managing Make Sense, and in particular for coordinating, planning, monitoring progress and reporting financially. ALAV is a platform for local government cooperation in the county and an arena for the municipalities’ to exchange knowledge and expertise. However, the municipal authorities in Sundsvall, Örnsköldsvik and Umeå are involved as hands-on partner organisations, alongside a number of local NGOs. Non-profit partners work closely with the target group in each municipality on a daily basis. Their responsibilities primarily encompass the provision of project staff; as well as running the meeting places, outreach activities, counseling services and volunteer coordination. These partners make indispensable efforts to support vulnerable EU citizens in their own right; they run shelters, support labour market integration, perform social and diaconal work, and distribute food and clothing. Make Sense also works with a number of local volunteers to engage with clients in each of their designated centres. In the long term, the project’s dental hygiene activities and CPR training (first aid treatment) aims to help people on a lifelong basis by increasing participants’ knowledge on how to handle life-threatening situations and improve their general health . Make Sense also offers lessons in the areas of self-care and sexual and reproductive health. To date, almost 300 beneficiaries have received support through the Make Sense centres. When possible, Make Sense also employs people from the target group as fieldworkers , which further contributes to their empowerment and helps spur their social inclusion. Make Sense recruits previous end recipients based on relevant language skills, former experiences with homelessness and cultural knowledge. The project has found that end recipients have a unique insight resulting in excellent fieldwork alongside the organisation’s Swedish employees. In addition, Make Sense publishes an annual calendar to put individual end recipients at the centre of their narrative . Every month, the calendar features the personal story of a migrant that Make Sense has encountered throughout the project cycle. In so doing, the catalogue provides end recipients with a platform to share their life stories, focusing on their personal aspirations and hopes for the future. This simultaneously contributes to raising awareness about human rights for vulnerable EU citizens in Sweden and beyond. One of the project’s success factors has been its mix of stakeholders. We have both municipalities and NGO’s involved in the project, side by side as equal partners.” — Sara Selmros, Make Sense Project Manager, ALAV. 63 Diverse approaches to supporting Europe’s most deprived: FEAD case studies 2018