[Rome, 18 June 2026] – Echo Labs, the social enterprise participated by FERCAM and DACHSER & FERCAM Italia, has received the “Welcome. Working for Refugee Integration” logo for the fourth consecutive year. The recognition is awarded by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to Italian companies that promote the social and labour market inclusion of refugees, asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection.

The award confirms the strength of the Echo Labs project, created to turn reception into professional independence, and is part of the “Welcome. Working for Refugee Integration” programme promoted by UNHCR. Since 2017, the programme has contributed to the activation of 69,000 job placements in Italy, including more than 18,600 in 2025 alone.

Through its social carpentry workshop in Rome, Echo Labs offers people who have fled war zones and endured extremely difficult life experiences a concrete professional pathway where they can learn a trade, strengthen technical skills and build new prospects.

In the workshop, inclusion becomes tangible productive activity: through an upcycling and regeneration process using materials from the logistics supply chain, the carpenters transform end-of-life wood into furniture, fittings and solutions for workspaces through skilled craftsmanship.

“The UNHCR recognition has deep significance for us because it reflects the continuity of a commitment we live every day, not only when receiving an award,” says Claudia Coscarella, Project Manager of Echo Labs. “Integration means creating the conditions for a person to feel part of a context, contribute with their skills and envision a more stable future. At Echo Labs, manual work becomes a shared language: people learn techniques, timing and rules, but above all they build belonging, autonomy and professional dignity.”

This model combines labour market integration, sustainability and shared value, generating concrete and measurable impacts on both people and the environment: in 2025, the social enterprise recovered and reintroduced into production more than 11 tonnes of wood, avoiding the emission of almost 52,000 kg of CO₂.

In 2025, Echo Labs consolidated its operating model, ensuring continuity for the social carpentry workshop through the employment of the people involved in the project. Those included are guaranteed ongoing employment and continuous investment in skills development: during the year, 280 hours of training were delivered, including professional development pathways and courses on occupational health and safety.

“Receiving UNHCR’s recognition once again is an important confirmation for us, but also a responsibility,” says Dino Menichetti, President of Echo Labs. “We have always believed that inclusion cannot remain an abstract principle: it must translate into contracts, training, skills and solid working relationships. This is how real opportunities are built, for people and for the community.”