Fotini Apostolou

Migrant Inflows

Recent changes Comparative table of migrants arrested by police & port authorities for illegal entry & residence Jan-Nov 2014 Jan-Nov 2015 Arrest Authorities Jan-Nov 2014 Jan-Nov 2015 % Change Regional Police Authority of Northern Aegean 1 Island of Lesbos 11,349 445,037 3821.38% 2 Island of Samos 7,373 95,324 1192,88% 3 Island of Chios 6,259 98,965 1481,16% Total 24,981 639,326 2459,25%

Languages

Questions of etymology No Community or Public Service Interpreters/Translators in Greece. Only court interpreters and inter/cultural inter/mediators.

Interpreting for the Asylum Service Interpreting provided by NGO (METAdrasi) 10-day training of unknown quality After training, candidates tested and certified by NGO Interpreters forced to sign exclusive contract Names of interpreters kept in secret list Interpreters sign with a code number given to them by the NGO Unknown remuneration Unknown working conditions

Interpreting for healthcare (Inter)cultural (Inter)mediators Fragmented (only when there is funding) Training by private vocational training centres (3-10 days) Unknown remuneration Unknown working conditions

Projects funded by the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals Year Project Funds 2007 Training of Intercultural Mediators 11,000 2008 Training of Intercultural Mediators 70,000 2009 Intercultural Mediation in Hospitals 468,000 2010 Intercultural Mediation in Hospitals 400,000 2010 Intercultural Mediation in housing services & other social services 100,000 2011 Intercultural Mediators Registrar 110,000 2012 Intercultural Mediation in Hospitals 400,000 2012-13 Training of Cultural Mediators Utilizing new social networking software 381,500 2013 Interpreting and intercultural mediation in one-stop services for issuing residence permits in the Decentralized Administration settings in Greece 230,000 2013 Intercultural Mediation in Social Services & Rehabilitation Centres 333,500 2014 Intercultural Mediation in Hospitals 400,000 Total 2,904,000

Projects: Training Practice Training projects roughly started in 2007 with the establishment of the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals. They are intended only for intercultural mediators. They precede the implementation of intercultural mediation in public authorities. Projects were undertaken (with one exception only) by private training centres and nongovernmental organisations; apart from training, these bodies also provided the state with trained intercultural mediators.

Training Providers Not universities Private Vocational Training Centers Non-Governmental Organisations

Why not universities? One School of Foreign Languages, Translation & Interpreting (Ionian University, Corfu) No permanent staff to teach interpreting or TIPS No postgraduate course on interpreting or TIPS Dept. of Translation & Intercultural Studies, School of English, Aristotle University One scholar Postgraduate course on Conference Interpreting Dept. of Applied Foreign Languages in Management & Commerce, Epirus Institute of Technology Research project on court interpreting No courses on TIPS

Recent developments Department of Turkish Studies & Modern Asian Studies (Athens) announced a new postgraduate programme of studies on Interpreting with the following specialisations: a. Interpreting for EU institutions b. Liaison interpreting c. Community Interpreting (the title in English)

Early initiatives: Manual for intercultural mediators (2003) Self-training manual for the intercultural mediator. Project: Towards Better Support System Form Integration of Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Migrants in Rural Areas (ASSET) http://www.intermediation.gr/myfiles/reposit ory/education/manual.diamesolaviti.pdf

Curricula: 2007-08 Ministry of the Interior Training Programmes for Intercultural Mediators ran by two private Vocational Training Centres in 2007 and 2008 (100 and 80 hours). Trained 300 Greeks and legal immigrants. Characteristic phenomena of intercultural societies principles of interculturalism The image of the alien in Greece and information on target-groups Institutional and legal issues Services provided by public and private bodies, communication with public services and use of services Psychosocial needs of immigrants and support methods Communication and negotiation techniques

The concept of the cultural and the intercultural. The contemporary socialnational perspective and multicultural dynamics. Interculturalism and social negotiation. Management models. Theory and practice of negotiative intervention in Intercultural Consultation. Greek legislative and institutional framework. Communication principles. Development of personal skills.

2007: Greek Council for Refugees Project for the Training of Cultural Intermediators (100 hours); 16 trainees. Units: Greek legal and institutional framework Interpreting modes and techniques Development of personal skills. The basic skills development techniques were analysed (increase of creativity, constructing ideas/thought processes, using kinesiology skills), interpersonal negotiation techniques (preparation, aggressive strategies, defensive strategies, concluding the negotiation), stress managements techniques (types of stress, symptoms, stress management strategies), time management techniques (dealing with procrastination, goals and planning ahead) and techniques for group encouragement). Intercultural Consultation. Discussion of the role and profile of the cultural intermediator, as well as the mode and objective of the consultative intervention.

2008: DEMETRA Private Vocational Centre 12 Projects for Intercultural Mediators Training. The project were organised in Thessaloniki, Larisa and Patras and were addressed to employed and unemployed Greeks and immigrants aged 22 to 50 years old. The projects aimed at training Intercultural Mediators on issues of consultation practice, career guidance, and interpretation techniques, so that the trainees could form a communication bridge between third country nationals and the host community. Introduction to cultural specificities in health issues Interpreting modes and techniques Consultation and Career Guidance

Curricula: Citizens Academy 400-hour training in Multicultural Mediation ; Cost 550 1 st Thematic Module: Fundamental principles of the concept of interculturalism Multiculturalism and contemporary Greek reality. Typical phenomena and dimensions of multicultural societies. Basic principles of interculturalism. Institutional and Legal Issues: Psychosocial needs of foreign nationals and support methods; Communication and negotiation techniques; Models for improving intercultural communication (cultural awareness, cultural competence); Techniques for the individual and collective development of lifting stereotypical behaviours; Psychological and social dimensions of legality and collective justice; Shaping the self-image and alertness on the objective representation of reality 2 nd Thematic Module: Presentation of international and national mechanisms for the protection of fundamental human rights Concept, content, dimensions and analysis of human rights. From philosophy to social reality Historic development and contemporary dynamics for human rights. Recommendations of international and European organisations for human rights.

Curricula: METAdrasi The Interpreters Training Seminar consists of a ten day training, taking place at the Organization s premises, followed by written and oral exams, with the aim being the achievement of METAdrasi s certificate of proficiency for the provision of interpretation services and the subsequent integration at the Organizations Registry of Interpreters. The interpreter s certificate of proficiency is valid for one year. After its expiration, the interpreter is re-assessed as regards the level of services provided in relation to the training he/she has received and the level of improvement as concerns recorded weaknesses.

METAdrasi: Training material Interpreters Manual (Greek) Forms of Interpreting Note taking Interpreting performance Position of the interpreter Code of ethics Before, during, and after interpretation Guide to Intercultural Mediation (Greek) Definitions, basic characteristics and applications The work of the intercultural mediator Communication Special uses of intercultural mediation

Guide to Intercultural Mediation Mediation is a process in which a neutral third party helps in settling a dispute between two or more parties. It is an extrajudicial process, during which the Mediator facilitates communication between the two parties, helps them focus on the problem and makes suggestions based on the needs and interests of all parties involved, aiming at settling the dispute, without having the authority to enforce solutions to those involved. It is different from simple negotiation, where the two parties negotiate a solution between themselves, and arbitration, where the arbitrator issues a decision, that is he makes a decision on the outcome. (pp. 3-4)

1. The Intercultural Mediator is called upon to intervene. He tries to get as much information as possible about the nature of the problem and decides if he can take the case. If he calls the parties, reassures them and gives specific instructions about what is to be done until the meeting (golden rule: freeze the situation ). [ ] 2. Whether on the phone or in person, the Intercultural Mediator introduces himself and explains his role. [ ] 3. In the first meeting the Intercultural Mediator introduces himself again, explains his role, his limitations, the normal procedure that is to follow, and the rules that govern the parties behaviour. [ ] 4. [ ] The Intercultural Mediator functions like a traffic warden, who ensures that each party will have the time and the calm to speak without interruptions and verbal assaults. [ ] 5. The Intercultural Mediator listens carefully to each party s views and clarifies anything he does not understand [ ]. 6. The Intercultural Mediator constructs a scenario of the situation in his mind with possible solutions.

Curricula: METAdrasi Training for the interpreters of METAdrasi on intercultural mediation 2-day seminar on medical terminology for the already specialized interpreters/intercultural mediators of Metadrasi 7-day seminar so that interpreters specialize on issues of intercultural mediation and providing services in the healthcare sector

SONETOR Partners: Hellenic Open University (Greece), University of Limerick (Ireland), Pontifical University of John Paul II (Poland), MARQUE 21 SL (Spain), BEST Institut für berufsbezogene Weiterbildung und Personaltra (Austria).

Intercultural Mediators Platform www.intermediation.gr

TIME Conference

Some observations Research together with training Evaluation of training programmes by state bodies Certification of community interpreters Courses offered by universities