Research project

Welcoming and accompanying asylum seekers on the day of their OFPRA interview: Oasis study

In the context of the opening of an experimental reception center for asylum seekers, called l’Oasis, the French Red Cross (CRf) wanted to involve a team of researchers from Urmis in setting up a research-action project.

 

Context, social issues and objectives

 

People fleeing their country often find themselves in conditions of great vulnerability, due to their pre-migration experience, the traumas and deprivations suffered on the road to exile, and their living conditions in destination countries. In France, the appointment with the French Office for the Protection of Refugees and Stateless Persons (OFPRA) is a key stage, generating stress and likely to reactivate vulnerabilities linked to the migratory experience. In response to this situation, the French Red Cross wants to create the Oasis, a reception and respite center for asylum seekers before and after their interview. Open during the day, the Oasis aims to improve the well-being of asylum-seekers, so that they can approach this decisive stage with peace of mind. The CRf, in collaboration with JRS France (Jesuit Refugee Service), is implementing this project with a team of employees and volunteers.

 

The action-research project led by Urmis aims to study the operation and practices of the Oasis, by answering the question of its suitability for the needs of asylum seekers, particularly in terms of support during a highly anxiety-provoking time and preparation before the OFPRA interview. The issues at stake include reception in a very short timeframe, the appropriation of the place by asylum seekers and their interactions with the various services on offer. The objectives of the research are to report on the effects of the scheme on asylum seekers, in particular the benefits of the psychological support offered to Oasis occupants.

 

Research field and method of investigation

 

The methodological approach, including interviews and observations, is developed in collaboration with the site’s managers and organizers, and combines fieldwork carried out by the research team with feedback from both employees and volunteers. This fieldwork is supported by the regular presence and participation of the research team in the day-to-day running of the site.

 

Research of interest to both social players and the research community

 

This research is crucial for humanitarian and social actors, as it enables them to objectivize the effects of the Oasis’ operations and practices. By showing how the Oasis meets the specific needs of asylum seekers at a key stage in their journey, the research provides essential data for improving psycho-social support. It helps identify best practices and gaps to be filled, thus promoting a more humane and effective reception. In addition, the study serves as a proof of concept, demonstrating the relevance of similar schemes and convincing public authorities to integrate them institutionally. Finally, it sheds light on the dynamics between volunteers and employees from different associations, optimizing inter-association collaboration.

 

From a scientific point of view, the interest of this research lies in the valuable empirical data it offers for understanding psycho-social support mechanisms in a migratory context, thus enriching the scientific literature on support for vulnerable populations and public asylum policies.

 

Biography

The project leaders are social science researchers at the Université de Paris Cité and members of the Urmis (Unité de recherche migrations et société). Mireille Eberhard is a sociologist and senior lecturer. Florence Boyer is a geographer, in charge of research at the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD). Louiza Laetitia Hafsi is a doctoral student in sociology.