1. The organization :
"For a more open and inclusive society with regard to people in migration, the Citizen Platform - BELRefugees aims to mobilise and federate the energies of citizens and associations in order to transform societal representations and attitudes towards people in migration and to contribute to offering a response to their needs that is fundamentally humane and of high quality by developing, if necessary, new solutions. "
Confronted with the poor management of the reception of refugees in Belgium, the Citizen Platform for Refugee Support was created in September 2015 and defined itself as a meeting place and coordination of individual and collective initiatives concerned with migration issues.
Since then, the Citizen Platform has been providing, within its means, an unconditional welcome, a response to requests for information, training and assistance to exiles, migrants, asylum seekers, newcomers and undocumented migrants, in full respect of the individual and his or her choices. It thus works towards the integration of these people in their new environment.
The Citizen's Platform encourages the respect of a migration policy in accordance with international conventions, and in the respect of everyone's rights. It is convinced that only a sustainable and united solution, based on respect for human rights and universal brotherhood, can be put in place to face the global crisis of reception that our time is experiencing.
2. The context
The Sister's house is the accommodation, information and support facility for homeless migrant women of BELRefugees.
This unique and innovative project has been running since its creation thanks to the incredible mobilisation of volunteers. The Sister's House is a safe and caring shelter, designed as a gender-neutral space and sensitive to gender and migration issues. It aims to respond to the psycho-medical and social needs of the women it meets every day, working closely with first and second line partners, particularly those present at the Humanitarian Hub, taking into account the specificities of women's migratory journeys.
In concrete terms, the missions are organised between :
- the Sister's House front desk at the Humanitarian Hub : this is the point of entry for all women seeking accommodation, where social interviews and referrals to local partners take place, as well as follow-up on referrals (to the 2nd line); it is also where each new resident is welcomed, introduced to the accommodation system and networked by peers ;
- the Sister's House, which is the single-sex accommodation facility designed according to a Housing First logic, where the community, collective and individual empowerment approach enables each resident to find a maximum response to her specific needs. This is also where the outreach offices of several partners are located (referrals and follow-up) ;
- and second-line services, i.e. hospitals, OCMWs, family planning centres, medical centres, etc., which provide a psycho-medico-social response to the needs of residents.
In this context, the intercultural mediator's mission is to act as a cultural and linguistic link between the volunteer and salaried teams of Sister's House and the residents, in order to continually improve the quality of the service in accordance with the values of the centre and to remove cultural and linguistic barriers.
In order to meet the above-mentioned objectives, the Sister's House intercultural mediation position :
1. In close cooperation with the other team members - in the accommodation facility, at the SH front desk and occasionally in the 2nd line :
- Facilitate communication between the residents and the teams (employees and volunteers) by establishing a relationship of trust with a view to offering a quality service to the residents ;
- Supporting the volunteers and permanent staff in welcoming new residents (explaining to them and making them aware of the rules governing the operation of the facility, the timetable, the activities and informing them about the various internal services (outreach services, luggage storage, community operations, etc.) or external services (humanitarian hub, second-line services, etc.) to which they can turn to meet their needs ;
- Leading or co-facilitating the daily focus groups (moments of listening and exchange with the residents and organising the operation of the facility in a community manner) ;
- Provide translation and mediation during the SISA (social and administrative information service) meetings in the accommodation facility - and occasionally during other outreach meetings (SOS Jeunes, MSF, etc.) ;
- Paying particular attention to the specific needs of residents, in close collaboration with the accommodation referents and the social workers in the facility :
- exchanging with the permanent team in order to approach each resident in the most appropriate way possible ;
- share any relevant information observed in the field with colleagues in the permanent team, with particular attention to vulnerabilities (violence, people at risk, etc.), according to the rules of confidentiality established within the team ;
- intervening in emergency or tense situations in order to restore communication and calm.
2) With the whole permanent team
2.1) Social diagnosis & structuring
- Active participation in the ongoing social diagnosis and improvement of care, in the spirit of the project ;
- Active participation in structuring work (translation of tools for residents, etc.) ;
- reflection with the permanent team and volunteers on how to adapt messages to make them culturally acceptable and avoid misunderstandings:
- carrying out translations (documents, information sessions, etc.) ;
- Supporting and briefing the permanent and volunteer teams on understanding specific aspects of the cultural background of the residents in order to improve the quality of the service;
- Reporting data and writing attendance reports.
2.2. On an ad hoc basis :
- Supporting volunteers in the management of the accommodation scheme ;
- Support to the permanent team in case of emergency.
3. Profile required
3.1 Technical skills :
- Good knowledge of French, as well as Arabic and/or Amharic and Tigrinya and English is essential. Knowledge of Somali is an asset ;
- Proficiency in the Office suite and Drive ;
- Have proven experience as an intercultural mediator with a public similar to that of Sister's House ;
- Be sensitive to and trained in the gender approach in a humanitarian and migratory context ;
- Be sensitive to and trained in the collective and community approach.
3.2 Generic skills:
- To adhere fully to the values and missions set by the ASBL - and the Sister's House cluster ;
- Be able to anticipate and analyse problems and be solution-oriented ;
- Be organised and rigorous and be able to prioritise, including in emergency situations ;
- Be stress resistant and flexible; have good organisational skills and the ability to prioritise while responding to emergencies, be able to learn and react quickly ;
- Be proactive and autonomous, with an understanding of teamwork and interaction ;
- Demonstrate social, human and humanitarian sensitivity and a sense of empathy, in a context of precariousness and homelessness ;
- Demonstrate ethical behaviour: loyalty to the image and spirit of the shelter system and the institution, professional secrecy and deontology ;
- Have a sense of non-violent communication and positive assertiveness, as well as an ability to dialogue in a multicultural and intergenerational context, both with residents and volunteers ;
- Be willing to critically question your own functioning by continuously enriching yourself with new ideas and approaches, skills and knowledge.
4. We offer:
- A full time, fixed term contract until 31st December 2022 (extendable according to financing)
- Salary: CP 319.00 - salary scale 5 (2.385,59 € with no experience, 2.608,60€ with 3 years’ experience)
- The reimbursement of transport costs according to the conditions of CP 319.00 or the possibility to have a company bike
- The opportunity to join a dynamic, motivated and committed team, working for a a civic and profoundly human project
Interested?
Send us your CV, cover letter and 2 references by clicking on the “Postuler” button below.
