Project Summary
“Pathways to Joyful Integration” is a mentorship-based initiative led by integrated Afghan diaspora members to support newly arrived Afghan refugees and asylum seekers in Germany. The project accelerates the integration process, reducing the time it takes for refugees to enter the job market from 5–7 years to approximately 2 years. Through a community-driven approach, it addresses key challenges such as stress, cultural shock, language barriers, and mistrust in public institutions, fostering smoother and more positive integration experiences.
Focusing on tailored support, the project identifies individual needs, delivers targeted training and workshops, and creates personalized integration roadmaps for each participant. By empowering refugees to overcome obstacles and unlock their potential, the initiative transforms the traditionally difficult, often painful, and costly integration process into a faster, more joyful journey, highlighting refugees as valuable contributors to German society.
Project Manager
Country
Germany
Status
Ongoing since Dec 2024
Budget
EUR 400,600
Partners
Bakhtar Institute
Qawma Akademiker Netzwerk in Deutschland (QAND)
Project goals
- Conduct a comprehensive needs assessment survey within the first three months of project initiation, through individual interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs) with 300 newly arrived Afghan refugees to identify key challenges, needs, and training requirements for their successful integration into German society and the job market.
- Deliver a total of 48 orientation workshops over the project lifecycle (24 annually), focusing on topics identified through the needs assessment survey, such as German laws, culture, public institutions, and essential public services.
- Develop and implement 30 trust-building and adaptation training sessions (15 annually) to foster trust and positive perceptions among newly arrived refugees regarding German public institutions, including the rule of law, freedom of speech, democracy, and good citizenship.
- Facilitate community engagement and cultural exchange events to promote social cohesion by fostering connections between newly arrived refugees and local communities.
- Create and implement personalized integration roadmaps tailored to the individual goals of each participant, providing clear and actionable steps for their integration journey.
Pathways to Joyful Integration is Mustafa Nasiri’s vision for the smoother integration of thousands of newly arrived Afghan refugees in Germany. Mustafa’s journey began in June 2019 when he migrated to Germany, driven by the pursuit of academic excellence. Awarded a full scholarship by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), he enrolled in the distinguished International PhD Program for Agricultural Economics, Bioeconomy, and Sustainable Food Systems (IPPAE) at Justus-Liebig University Giessen. This opportunity marked a significant turning point in his life, as he left his position as a Project Manager at an Asian Development Bank project in Kabul, Afghanistan to pursue a doctoral degree in Germany. He has since completed his doctoral dissertation and is preparing to defend his degree. His PhD research focuses on agricultural and behavioral economics.
Two years later, in August 2021, Afghanistan faced a devastating political upheaval with the collapse of its republican government and the rise of the Taliban. This crisis forced millions to flee their homeland, including Mustafa’s family—his parents, six siblings, and extended relatives were among those evacuated to Germany through a government program. As the Afghan diaspora in Germany swelled from approximately 300,000 in 2021 to about 420,000 by 2024, Mustafa witnessed firsthand the challenges that newly arrived refugees faced.
While Mustafa’s own migration experience was facilitated by his scholarship and institutional support, he quickly became involved in helping his family navigate the complexities of resettlement and integration. He recognized that Afghan refugees often encounter numerous obstacles beyond seeking asylum. These challenges include cultural shock, language barriers, bureaucratic hurdles, employment difficulties, and social acceptance issues. Many refugees also carry a survival mindset and a lack of trust in public institutions from their experiences back home.
In response to these challenges, Mustafa joined forces with other Afghan professionals who had successfully integrated into German society to form QAND (Qawma Akademiker Netzwerk in Deutschland). This network of over 800 Afghan academics and professionals aims to support newly arrived immigrants in their integration journey.
Drawing from his own experiences and inspired by a mentorship program he participated in during his master’s studies in Japan (2014 – 2017), Mustafa initiated a mentorship program for his brother, Ali Sina Nasiri. Under Mustafa’s guidance, Ali Sina achieved C1-level German proficiency and secured full-time employment within two years—a process that typically takes five to seven years for most refugees.
This success led Mustafa to develop “Pathways to Joyful Integration,” a mentorship-based integration program designed to assist newly arrived Afghan refugees. The project aims not only to facilitate smoother integration into German society but also to reshape perceptions of Afghan refugees from being viewed as burdens or threats to being seen as valuable contributors.
The program comprises three core components:
1. Needs Assessment: Engaging in participatory research through surveys and focus group discussions to identify the pressing challenges faced by refugees.
2. Tailored Interventions: Providing essential knowledge and skills through targeted workshops and training programs that include orientation workshops, trust-building and adaptation training, and community engagement initiatives.
3. Personalized Integration Roadmaps: Offering customized plans for each participant that outline goals, resources, and timelines tailored to their individual circumstances.
The two-year project (December 2024 – December 2026) will be implemented in Giessen/Frankfurt and Berlin in partnership with two Afghan diaspora organizations: the Berlin-based Bakhtar Institute and QAND. Initial fundraising efforts are underway through various platforms, with the first phase focused on needs assessment scheduled for implementation in early 2025.
Mustafa’s vision for “Pathways to Joyful Integration” is rooted in the belief that with the right support and mentorship, Afghan refugees can overcome their challenges and contribute positively to their new communities. By fostering an environment of understanding and collaboration between Afghan refugees and German society, this project seeks not only to improve individual lives but also to build a more inclusive future for all.
