[Rome 19 June 2025] - In a national political context marked by growing tensions around migration issues, Echo Labs, the social enterprise founded by FERCAM and DACHSER, has received the “Welcome. Working for Refugee Integration” award from UNHCR – the UN Refugee Agency – for the third year in a row. This recognition is granted to Italian companies that stand out for promoting the social and professional inclusion of people with international protection through employment, training programs, and targeted support. The 2024 edition saw participation from 253 companies across 17 Italian regions, the highest number ever recorded by UNHCR for this initiative.

At the official ceremony held at LUISS University in Rome, Echo Labs was represented by Claudia Coscarella, Project Manager; Dino Menichetti, President; and Fanto Samake, a 20-year-old originally from Mali who has been living in Italy for nearly three years and is now a member of the social carpentry team. Like his colleagues, Fanto has undertaken a journey of growth and professional development in woodworking with Echo Labs, establishing himself today as a key figure in the project.

“Receiving this recognition for the third consecutive year is a great source of pride for us,” said Dino Menichetti. “Echo Labs was created to be a place of opportunity: a space where people learn trades, but more importantly, build relationships, identities, and futures. Our partnership with UNHCR through the Welcome Net project – a network of over one hundred civil society organizations managing public and private reception and employment services – enables us to share experiences and increase the effectiveness of our inclusion efforts while expanding access to the labor market.”

Founded in 2021, the Echo Labs social carpentry workshop trains and employs individuals from vulnerable backgrounds, helping them build valuable skills through artisanal work and generating tangible, measurable social impact. In a country where public debate is often shaped by polarized narratives on migration, Echo Labs proves that integration is not only possible but replicable and sustainable. Projects like this – born from the collaboration between profit and non-profit sectors – create shared value, offering concrete opportunities for efficiency and innovation with environmental, social, and economic benefits.