The immigrant workers support association (ASTI) has proposed a supervision model for volunteers involved in accommodation structures for asylum seekers.

As part of a collaboration agreement under which ASTI manages an accommodation structure for DPI in Mersch, the Luxembourg Office for Hospitality and Integration - OLAI commissioned ASTI to carry out a pilot project from 15 September 2015 to 31 December 2016 for development of a model to determine the management needs of volunteers who support asylum seekers. 

The volunteer mentoring model had to be replicable in other accommodation structures, focusing, inter alia, on the definition of the tasks and tasks to be performed by a volunteer, a proposal for structuring and organising volunteer training, clarification of the legal framework and obligations,

development of a pedagogical training structure and model for volunteer training, search for a structure that can carry the project, and documenting the issues and challenges encountered.

Through a series of collaborations and joint activities with schools, local organisations, the commune etc, ASTI says that it has succeeded in bringing the residents of the home closer to the other residents of Mersch, sharing positive moments together.

Moreover, ASTI participated in the development of information sessions and basic training for volunteers, which were set up, among others, by close collaboration between the Volunteer Agency, ASTI, The Red Cross, Caritas and Reech eng Hand. Thanks to the financial support of the National Organization of Secours Grande-Duchesse Charlotte (call for projects "Mateneen"), the "get involved" volunteer training was created and coordinated by the Volunteer Agency. 

On the basis of observation and reflection work with the volunteers and the residents of the home, ASTI has put in place instruments -- documents, meetings, training, etc. -- that allow for effective supervision and monitoring of volunteers in the homes.

These instruments mainly concern the framework for intervention that regulates the roles of all stakeholders in the home, volunteer information, monitoring and coordination among volunteers, training, and the valorisation of volunteers.

All of the observations and instruments were documented in a final report, which provides a model for mentoring volunteers in shelters for international protection applicants. It should be noted, however, that the pilot project was carried out in a small shelter for families and that the instruments developed require adaptations depending on the accommodation structure where it is applied.

The volunteer mentoring model is available from ASTI and others for managers of accommodation structures for IPRs, municipalities or other interested bodies who would like to use them.

If voluntarism cannot replace the professional, vice versa, the professional can not replace the volunteer because he or she plays an important role in the process of integrating IPR into our society. Through their commitment, they support organisations and social workers in the activities and approaches carried out with IPRs and facilitate contact between the host population and IPRs. It is therefore important to support volunteers in their commitments and to value their work.

ASTI says that the organisation is convinced that the model of mentoring volunteers in shelters for asylum seekers can allow a more structured follow-up of the volunteers involved in the IPR and a more effective social work of accompanying IPR.