Across Europe, everyday services are becoming digital-first, from booking a doctor’s appointment to paying a utility bill. For many people, this change feels convenient. But for migrants and refugees in Cyprus and Greece, it can feel like standing at a locked door without the key. Language barriers, unfamiliar platforms, and limited digital skills mean that even basic tasks like accessing public healthcare services or paying rent can become overwhelming (European Commission, 2020; UNESCO, 2021).
Through MINDT project, which is co-funded under the Erasmus+ program, two training sessions for professionals were held in Cyprus, by Generation For Change CY and in Greece by Generations 2.0 RED both in Greek and one in English, to give frontline workers the tools to guide migrants, asylum seekers and refugees through this digital maze.
Training Design and Approach
Each session ran for two days and was centered around the project’s ICT skills guide. More than just a manual, the guide became a lifeline during the workshops, helping participants solve real-life challenges:
- registering for the public healthcare system and teaching how to book appointments with doctors,
- setting up digital wallets to pay utility bills,
- and navigating online job platforms in a highly competitive market.
Cyprus has attracted many international companies in recent years, drawing highly skilled professionals from around the world while the financial crisis in Greece intensified competition in the job market, leaving fewer openings for a growing pool of applicants. Highly educated job seekers found themselves vying for limited roles, making the hunt more demanding than ever.
These parameters have made the job market particularly tough for migrants and refugees in both countries, who often lack both the language skills and the digital know-how to compete. For them, learning to use an online platform isn’t just a skill, it can be the bridge to finding stable employment and a better life.
The training began with intercultural competence exercises (Council of Europe, 2019), reminding participants that behind every technical barrier lies a human story: a mother trying to book a doctor’s appointment for her child, a worker needing to pay their bills on time, a young man sending his first CV online.
One participant from Greece explained:
“When I first tried to help someone register for healthcare online, I felt just as lost as they did. Now, I know exactly what steps to follow. It means I can give them real support instead of just sympathy.”
Another from Cyprus added:
“Sometimes it’s the small things—like showing someone how to pay their electricity bill online—that make the biggest difference. You see the relief in their face, knowing that they are independent and able to assume their responsibilities without having to run after an accountant, friends of family to help them.”
Measurable Change
Scores from pre- and post-training assessments showed remarkable growth. These numbers are more than statistics, they represent professionals who can now guide someone through paying a bill online, finding a job posting, or logging into the healthcare system, actions that directly affect dignity, security, and wellbeing (OECD, 2019; European Training Foundation, 2022).
As one trainee reflected:
“Learning how to navigate job platforms opened my eyes. Migrants are competing not just with locals but with skilled workers from all over the world. Now I can help them polish their applications and actually get seen.”
What Worked Best
Several elements proved especially effective:
- Real-life scenarios: Training was grounded in everyday struggles migrants face.
- Active guide use: The ICT guide became a living tool for the participants, not just a document.
- Visible progress: Assessments gave participants proof of their own growth.
- Diverse groups: NGO staff, interns, and people with lived migrant experience enriched the learning space.
- Empathy first: Beginning with intercultural skills kept the focus on human needs, not just technical tasks.
Looking Ahead
These trainings showed how much can change when professionals are equipped with both digital and human-centered skills. For migrants, this means more than simply keeping up with technology—it means being able to see a doctor, keep the lights on, and compete in a crowded job market.
As Cyprus and Greece continue to digitize, initiatives like this are vital to ensure that migrants and refugees are not left behind, but instead given the chance to thrive.
References
- Council of Europe. (2019). Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture.
- European Commission. (2020). Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI).
- European Training Foundation. (2022). Digital Skills and Migration.
- OECD. (2019). Bridging the Digital Divide: Include, Upskill, Innovate.
- UNESCO. (2021). Digital Literacy for All.