Migreurop

Migreurop is a European and African network of activists and researchers which strives to raise awareness and fight against the issues of increased detention of foreign nationals and of the proliferation of camps, a measure which is at the heart of the EU’s external border policy.

Migreurop, created in 2002, has over 45 member associations as well as over 55 individual members in 17 countries across the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Emmaus Europe has been involved in Migreurop’s initiatives since 2013 and has been a member of the network since 2016.

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Partners

How does it work?

Every summer various camp events are organised by the Emmaus groups all across Europe. Aimed at young people over the age of 18, the idea behind these summer camps is to offer the participants a meaningful experience whilst allowing them to be involved in the day-to-day life of an Emmaus group for a period of at least a week.

Signing up to a summer camp means you are contributing to Emmaus’ work as well as being involved in the day-to-day life of the group. It means you are helping to tackle poverty and all of its causes but the camps are also a moment of sharing and socialising as well as representing an opportunity to live an alternative experience alongside people from various backgrounds and from all across the globe.

Practical Information

The dates, the duration, the activities and excursions offered all vary from one event to another but what all the camps have in common is that they allow the participants to learn about the values of our movement and to meet its members by getting involved in our work. No particular skills are required, these events are open to all and everyone can contribute in their own way.

The Emmaus groups cover any costs the participants may incur during the camp. Accommodation and meals are provided by the group. The costs of transport to/from the event are, however, to be covered by the participants.

Where do I sign?

To sign up for an event or to get in touch for more information about it, click on the summer camp which you are interested in and get in touch with the relevant contact person. The registration periods will vary from one camp to another but generally speaking registration opens at the end of April/early May.

If you would like more information on the summer camps get in touch with Emmanuel Rabourdin, our Solidarity Coordinator, at emmanuel.rabourdin@emmaus-europe.org

Summer camps

Emmaus in Finland

A discussion with Anu Lähde, national delegate for Finland on the board of Emmaus Europe.

Can you tell us about how Emmaus began in Finland?

Starting in 1959, a small group of Finns began supporting the work of Swedish organisation, Swallows, in India and Peru. In 1964, Birgit and Rurik Rancken set up Swallows in Ekenäs in south west Finland. They selected and prepared volunteers for the work in India and Peru, and organised discussions and provided information about the third world.

Gérard Protain, a French priest committed to his work with the Emmaus rag-pickers in Lima, was ex-pelled from Peru in 1962 as the authorities judged his work and views subversive. He went back to Finland and helped set up the Emmaus Helsinki community in 1966, with Marita Uunila and the Friends of Emmaus. Students and adults worked together to help people living on the streets, organise collection work and manage the second-hand shops.

What activities are led by Emmaus in Finland?

The first Emmaus group in Finland, Swallows, is one of the oldest Finnish development cooperation organisations. Swallows of Finland focus on long-term partnership with Nepalese, Indian and Peruvian NGOs, as the first Swallows Emmaus groups from Sweden. The other Emmaus groups manage second hand shops.

Finnish groups emphasise solidarity and development cooperation support as well as offering supported employment schemes or rehabilitation schemes for vulnerable groups (for example, disabled, unemployed or migrants). Finnish groups no longer have communities with companions. There is always lots of work to be done with the collection, sorting and selling of donated goods in the second hand shops. Most of the income allows to support the international solidarity, notably in the Baltic countries.

Both Emmaus Åland and Helsinki have initiated labour pools which strive to offer more employment opportunities to vulnerable and marginalised groups. The labour pools focus on employing migrant women and men at risk of poverty and exclusion. These people mostly originate from Southeast Europe and represent various cultures and languages. Through the labour pool they do official work such as cleaning, gardening and repair. They also receive basic training and help in all kinds of issues (such as on employment or legal matters). The Emmaus Åland labour pool has been able to offer employment both for shorter or longer assignments, impacting around 50 people.

How have things been going since the health crisis and how did you adapt to the situation?

The coronavirus pandemic has caused challenges for our second hand shop activities due to shops being closed last spring for several months and there have been less customers and volunteers. The situation is still foreseen to continue and thus the amount of income destined to the solidarity support is this year smaller than usual (for the second year in a row). Emmaus Helsinki has been able to give sometimes 40 % of its annual income to solidarity support but this year the total could be only 25 %.

However, even when times are difficult, all the groups are committed to continue the solidarity work as much as possible. The crisis has made us reflect on our values and prioritise our activities. We have needed to think about our financial situation more carefully and adjust our activies i.e. Emmaus Åland’s restaurant ceased its operations permanently. Nevertheless, we have generally managed to cope quite well in the crisis.

Finland News

Emmaus Bolton – Joinery and Upcycling Workshops

Two years ago Emmaus Bolton opened workshops where they make wooden items and upcycle furniture. The idea behind this was to provide the companions with the opportunity to acquire new skills and it has worked a treat!

Emmaus Bolton is a community based near Manchester, in the UK. The group’s 22 companions carry out the classic Emmaus work of collecting, sorting and selling objects on at a low cost but they’re always thinking up new initiatives for the future too! Their qualified joiner, and craftsman helps the companions to learn the trade, meaning that they are now capable of taking on a wide range of projects.

So far they have made tables, chairs, wardrobes, bookcases, shelves, radiator covers and garden furniture. These items are then sold in the Emmaus Bolton shop but that’s not all, they also offer a custom-made furniture service, helping to bring their clients’ ideas to life!

4-6 people work in the workshops on a daily basis. They use recycled wood whenever they can but if they ever have to buy new wood they will ensure it comes from sustainably-managed forests (where logging doesn’t threaten the health or survival of the forest).

It normally takes them a week to produce custom-made pieces and their customers are always delighted to be involved in the design stage and in choosing the finishings for these items. They can choose the colour, the varnish and the wood treatments for all articles made by the companions, helping to strengthen the relationship with the customers and making the community even more open to the outside world. This new activity has also represented an opportunity for the companions to learn a trade, something which is important for them professionally as well as for their self-esteem.

More information: https://emmaus.org.uk/bolton

Circular economy / The environment News United Kingdom