New Mentoring Programme "Entre Joves"
“Entre joves” (among youths) is a new project of the Autonomous Solidarity Foundation (FAS) that looks for the inclusion of unaccompanied foreign minors from the Vallès Occidental, with the voluntary participation of UAB students.
27/10/2021
The “Entre Joves” project arises from the necessity of promoting a fairer and more equal society with all the people forming it. It is based in inclusion, and in the work with unaccompanied foreign minors thanks to the participation of UAB students in different voluntary actions, such as mentoring, group activities, and activities of awareness related to this topic. A raise of awareness will be fostered in order to highlight the importance of moving towards a more inclusive, critical and committed society.
This initiative has the support of the Social Rights Department and it is coordinated with the Directorate General for Child and Adolescent Care in Barcelona; the Directorate General for Youth of the Generalitat de Catalunya and other social entities of the area.
This programme encapsulates the individualized social accompaniment to unaccompanied foreign minors, meetings with periodic mentoring inside the UAB Campus or the surroundings, group activities between mentors and mentorees, as well as activities for awareness and mobilization in the Campus.
But... Who are these young people?
The MENAs (Unaccompained Foreign Minors) is the name that is used to refer to those foreign minors that migrate alone. Even though it is widely used in mass media, this term dehumanizes them and contains a negative and stigmatizing connotation.
When these children arrive to the territory, they are in government custody, meaning that they live in group homes or private homes. When they reach their legal age, they stay between the care of the local authorities or the emancipation, where the regularization of their state or the work permit are not guaranteed. In other words, their vulnerable situation is going to be increased.
The recent reform of the Regulation No 557/2011 and of the Aliens Law in relation to the legal status of foreign minors and ex-foster young people that was passed in the Royal Decree-law 903/2021, implies the incorporation of certain flexibility and improvements in order to obtain the work and residence permits.
So, how can you help?
By participating in the “Entre Joves” project where you will share experiences with ex-foster young people from the Vallés Occidental and surroundings. Through social mentoring as a transforming tool, you will contribute to encourage the cohesion and mutual respect, and the creation of new areas for learning and bidirectional exchanging. If you want more information, you can look up the informational and detailed sheet about the project here or reach fas.entre.joves@uab.cat.