[Roma 26.06.23] UNHCR awards 167 companies that promoted refugee employment inclusion in 2022. Among them is Echo Labs, which, through its social carpentry workshop, offers training and employment to political refugees and asylum seekers.
UNHCR today honored in Rome the 167 companies that supported the employment inclusion of nearly 9,300 refugees during 2022. All of them will receive formal recognition: they will be entitled to display and use in their communications a logo certifying the quality of their commitment.
The initiative is part of the broader “Welcome. Working for refugee integration” project, through which UNHCR Italy supports the integration of refugees into the labor market by encouraging greater private sector engagement in cooperation with institutions and civil society organizations—thus involving all actors in the world of work.
In 2022, the carpentry workshop hired two individuals with refugee status on permanent contracts, while a young man from Senegal was offered the opportunity to carry out a five-month professional internship, which provided him with an income, opportunities for interaction and socialization with colleagues in Rome, and valuable skills to facilitate his access to the job market.
«Echo Labs, a non-profit social enterprise, is driven by social and environmental goals», says Dino Menichetti, Regional Manager at FERCAM and President of Echo Labs. «Ours is a permanent workshop that offers everyone, regardless of ethnic or cultural background, a valuable opportunity for exchange. We are proud to have received this prestigious recognition and eager to begin a dialogue with UNHCR. I firmly believe that to develop shared and participatory paths to integration, collaboration between companies and the various actors involved in supporting beneficiaries of international protection is increasingly essential. In this regard, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the Medihospes Cooperative, whose active cooperation in our project ensures shelter, assistance, and dignity to thousands of migrants fleeing war, poverty, and persecution, playing a vital role in the territory through reception services and professional mediation», Menichetti concludes.
«Today I’m very excited to take part in this ceremony with my colleagues», says Sebastien, who has been working at the social carpentry workshop for over a year and was present at the award ceremony. «All I can say is that I’m truly happy to work at Echo Labs—the atmosphere is always positive, and I’m surrounded by people who support one another. Having a job contract with a solid company gives me security and peace of mind».
