Motivation and Experience: The survey revealed that 45% of youth workers are motivated by the desire to make a positive impact on young people’s lives, while 30% were inspired by their own positive experiences with youth workers. A significant number (60%) have prior experience working with migrants and refugees, with 42% having direct experience and 18% having worked in related programs.

Challenges and Effective Strategies: Youth workers identified several challenges when working with young migrants and refugees, with 47% citing language and communication barriers as the primary issue. Other challenges include prejudice and discrimination from local communities (25%), lack of access to basic needs (15%), and trauma-related mental health issues (8%). Effective strategies for promoting integration include language and cultural exchange programs (38%), youth-led initiatives (25%), mentoring programs (17%), and advocacy campaigns (12%).

Training Gaps and Required Competencies: The survey highlighted gaps in current training and resources, with 40% of respondents indicating a need for better training in cultural competency and diversity. Other gaps include insufficient resources and funding (28%) and inadequate support from management (18%). Essential competencies for youth workers include cultural competency (40%), communication skills (30%), empathy (20%), and advocacy skills (7%).

Collaboration and Community Engagement: Potential barriers to collaboration between youth workers and other stakeholders include lack of communication (35%), limited funding (25%), and differing priorities (20%). Important qualities for youth workers include empathy and compassion (38%), cultural sensitivity (30%), and patience (20%). To engage migrants and refugees in community activities, strategies such as organizing inclusive events (34%), providing leadership opportunities (29%), and creating safe dialogue spaces (18%) were recommended.

Addressing Misconceptions and Promoting Social Cohesion: Common misconceptions about migrants and refugees include beliefs that they are a burden on society (35%) and pose security threats (20%). Youth workers can promote cultural exchange through events (28%) and dialogue opportunities (19%). Effective ways to provide language training include formal classes (46%) and peer-to-peer tutoring (18%).

Support for Trauma and Advocacy: To address trauma-related issues, youth workers recommend providing counseling (34%) and creating supportive spaces (29%). Legal and administrative hurdles include complex regulations (38%) and lack of legal support (24%). Advocacy efforts can be strengthened by building relationships with policymakers (24%) and organizing campaigns (36%).

Utilizing Technology and Measuring Impact: Youth workers can use social media to connect refugees with resources (49%) and offer online training programs (28%). Measuring the impact of their work involves conducting surveys (40%), collecting success stories (28%), and tracking metrics such as employment rates (17%).