Essay Sample on Immigration in France

France plays an important role in relocating refugees and migrants in Europe. Its location bordering the Mediterranean Sea means it collects immigrants from both the Middle East and Africa. France, and the world, is undergoing a steep rise in immigration due to the refugee crisis.  Applications for refugee status were over 130,000 in France in 2019 (Statista, 2021  ). Less than 30,000 were accepted. 

In addition to experiencing a rigorous vetting process upon entering the country, new arrivals are met with social and economic challenges. When it comes to welcoming refugees into society, there is often a division between current members of the community and new members of the community. This division is caused by cultural differences and societal stereotypes towards refugees and members of different races. 

The lack of support, caused by political and social challenges, can inhibit new arrivals’ ability to integrate into a host society, which prevents them from reaching their fullest social, cultural, and economic potential. As a result, the local issue in Lyon is that refugees need equal access to quality job opportunities and similarly, a more widespread welcoming of their multicultural identities.

Without equal access to jobs, some new arrivals are left to find other ways to make a living, such as through entrepreneurship and start-up companies. Entrepreneurship bypasses the dependency on a biased employer, putting the opportunity directly into the hands of the entrepreneur. However, new arrivals are still at a disadvantage due to local biases and a lack of connections within the Lyon community. One way to improve the likelihood of entrepreneurial success is through education and support as people

SINGA is a nonprofit organization with one of their branches being operated in Lyon, France. The local issue that SINGA wants to solve is that refugees need equal access to quality job opportunities. They are trying to solve this issue by working with new arrivals who are aspiring entrepreneurs. By putting these entrepreneurs through their incubation program, they hope to provide their incubatees with the opportunities and support they deserve. 

In their effort to better help new arrivals, SINGA would like to improve their network of current incubatees and alumni from their incubation program. We plan to research and present possible solutions to help SINGA expand and improve this network. The following report includes information on the refugee crisis, economic and social challenges that new arrivals face, entrepreneurship, SINGA, and community building.