RESULTS of Our Yearlong Research on Coaching Refugees

Coaching and a Stable Place to Live are Empowering First Steps to Transforming Lives

Refugee JumpStart Coaching has wrapped up a year-long research project to see how coaching affects refugees' well-being and job prospects after they have secure housing. The study took place in Greece with over 40 refugees from 12 Middle Eastern and African countries. All the participants were given free accommodations for a year. They were split into two groups: one received coaching, and the other did not. The researchers collected data from surveys and interviews at the start, at the end of the coaching, and three months after coaching ended.

THE RESULTS

The impact of coaching on well-being.

Well-being The most impressive change was in well-being. Refugees who received three to four months of coaching felt better overall. They improved in one or more of the following aspects; they were calmer, happier, more active, more engaged in life. On average, they had less anxiety,felt more healed, and had better mental health. They often mentioned feeling supported, valued, and respected by their coaches, who offered practical advice and nonjudgmental support, which helped their emotional recovery. Coaching also gave participants a boost in self-confidence and provided practical skills like task organization, time management, job search strategies, and interview techniques. The sessions helped them see and believe in their own strengths and abilities.

Employability Results on employability were mixed. The group that received coaching showed improvement in job search knowledge and actions. Overall employability did not change.

Several factors influenced this:

• Many participants already had jobs at the start.
• Coaching's positive effects on employability might take longer to show up.
• Greece's tough job market, with high unemployment and limited opportunities, posed a big challenge.

Impact of the Accommodations The accommodation allowance provided crucial stability, allowing refugees to focus on other important areas of their lives like language classes, job training, job search prep, personal development, and building social connections. Participants felt immense relief and gratitude for this support, which helped them move from dependence to greater independence and confidence.

Combined Effect of Accommodations and Coaching Having both stable housing and coaching met the refugees' basic needs for security and higher-level needs for social interaction and wellbeing. Stable living conditions enabled them to fully engage in coaching, which in turn helped them use their stability to better prepare for and progress towards suitable jobs.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that combining housing and coaching significantly boosts refugees' well-being. Addressing both basic and advanced needs facilitates a more holistic recovery and integration process. Immediate improvements in job search behaviors were observed, but the full impact on employability might take longer to show. Once refugees are housed, coaching has proven to be a successful intervention to help them achieve emotional stability and well being, which are essential for finding and securing employment. Further research over a longer period is needed to fully understand the long-term impacts of coaching on employability.

Quotes from RJS Refugee Clients

“I liked the fact that I was given the opportunity to see myself in a different and powerful way. I also liked having someone who was listening to me and was guiding me, finding solutions through some rough topics.”

“I am feeling better, I am gradually healing. I do not have as much anxiety as before.”

“The project was massively useful. I was crawling before and now I’m standing.”

“The housing and the coaching changed me. The housing is essential. But we, refugees, need someone to bring outside who you are. It is a cultural thing. In my culture we like to be proud, we like others to tell us we are good, we need to hear it. Nobody was saying this to me that I am successful.”

“When you have a lot in your plate, it is difficult. Then RJS comes and gives you a hand and you feel free, you have hope.”