Conference Power of Older Refugees

Stichting Bevordering Maatschappelijke Participatie “Promotion of Social Participation” (BMP foundation) and Vluchtelingenwerk Nederland (the Dutch Refugee Council) are pleased to invite you to the conference “The Power of Older Refugees”, to be held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on 12 December 2008.

The aim of this conference is to raise awareness about the position of older refugees and to introduce new methods to approach older refugees.
The intention is also to develop new actions to strengthen the position of older refugees on a local, national and European level.

Until recently, few people realised that there is a growing group of older refugees in various European countries for whom care, social exclusion and social participation are important issues. Studies carried out by BMP foundation and Asylkoordination, and also the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE), have shown that older refugees run the risk of ending up in social isolation. Oftentimes they have little family around them, and care and housing authorities are not aware of their presence. In general, they only have few opportunities to participate in society, with little room to express themselves and to show others who they really are.

To bring attention to the subject, an extensive project was executed in four European cities over a period of eighteen months. During the project, discussions were held with older refugees (in Berlin, Ghent, London, and Vienna), in order to gain insight in their daily lives and the problems they face. In addition, urban conferences were held on the position of older refugees, but also the role that local governments, organisations and institutions can play to empower them. Local empowerment programmes for older refugees were also initiated in the four cities.

At the same time a large panel study was held in eleven European countries; among professionals and representatives of aid organisations who deal with older refugees; and policy makers on a local and national level. The study provided in-depth information about the social position of older refugees and gave insight in their experiences. Based on this, ways to take action were developed.

At the conference in Amsterdam, the results of the various aspects of this project will be presented and discussed. The conference will be held at the town hall of Amsterdam, and the cities’ mayor, Mr. Job Cohen, will be opening the meeting. The day will consist of a plenary session in the morning and four afternoon workshops. Attached you will find the programme for the conference.

The following parties will participate in the conference, among others:

· Older refugees who participated in the Urban Conferences
· European organisations working with and for older refugees in Europe, such as:
· Interest groups of older refugees
· National divisions of the Red Cross
· Members of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE)
· Members of the European Parliament
· Representatives of the European commission
· National policymakers and politicians

We expect that the conference will be an excellent opportunity to meet (other) older refugees, and people who are committed to making a difference for this group. The city of Amsterdam will be the platform for older refugees to present themselves to an international audience; not only as a group that requires attention, but also as a positive force and source of inspiration for large European cities. It is therefore important to us that you attend.

You are invited to participate in this conference. Please click on the link below, and fill out the submission form to confirm your attendance.

Registration form

A conference document with the most important findings of the project, as well as reports of the Urban Conferences and a manifesto “Power of Older Refugees” will be available. If you have any questions regarding the conference, do not hesitate to contact BMP foundation.

We look forward to meeting you in Amsterdam, and anticipate your participation in the conference.

conference brochure

Programme

9.30 a.m. Plenary session: Boekman hall

Opening of the conference by the Mayor, interviews with older refugees.

Handing over of the first DVD The Power of Older Refugees to mister Job Cohen, Mayor of the city of Amsterdam.

Public presentation of the DVD , based on the Local Empowerment Programmes for older refugees in the cities of London, Vienna, Berlin, Ghent and Amsterdam.

10.00 Meeting each other, introduction of some playful methods

10.30 Statement on the position of older refugees by Igor Ivakic, acting director of The Dutch Refugee Council

10.45 Short presentation of the outcomes and results of the European project The Power of Older Refugees

11.15 Pause

11.30 Four Workshops lead by the partner organisations from

Berlin, London, Vienna and Ghent.

Workshop 1: The position of older refugees on a local level, future actions

Workshop 2: Developing a European policy on older refugees

Workshop 3: Empowerment of older refugees, strategies and methods

Workshop 4: Relationships between older and younger refugees in the various refugee communities

13.00 p.m. Lunch

13.45 Follow up of the workshops

Starting with a short presentation by older refugees Continuation of the Metaplan: clustering of the issues brought up and further discussion

15.00 Pause

15.15 Plenary session: Boekman hall

Panel discussion about the necessity of further actions on a local, national and European level.
The panel will be formed by representatives of the European Parliament, and of national and local organisations for refugees and the elderly.

16.00 Closing of the conference