Conference article

The birth of Refugees Welcome Italia ONLUS (RWI) comes at a critical moment in history, in which both the European Union and the national states have failed to respond in a timely, effective and coordinated manner to what UNHCR has called “the greatest migration emergency since World War II” (UNHCR, 2015). RWI was founded in December 2015 as part of the international Refugees Welcome network, in order to develop a system for the reception of refugees and asylum-seekers by and into host families through a web platform (www.refugees-welcome.it). RWI was created to respond innovatively and sustainably to the needs of refugees with respect to reception and inclusion in the community, in light of the inadequacy of the existing. The 80 co-living experiences shaped through RWI’s methodology are the tangible proof that the physical space of private house with its deep interactions has the right characteristics to promote reciprocity, sharing and participation.

domestic hospitality, refugees, cultural and social change, sharing, reciprocity, participation