Socialinės pagalbos iniciatyvų vaidmuo Ukrainos pabėgėlių integracijos procese Neringos savivaldybėje
Recenzentas / Rewiewer |
Licencinė sutartis Nr. MRU-EDT-2006.
-.
The master’s thesis "The Role of Social Assistance Initiatives in the Integration Process of Ukrainian Refugees in Neringa Municipality" examines how social assistance initiatives contributed to Ukrainian refugees’ integration in a small, geographically isolated and seasonal municipality. The research object is the role of these initiatives, and the aim is to reveal this role by considering small-community conditions and place experience. The research was conducted as a qualitative case study. The methods included analysis of scientific literature and documents, semi-structured interviews, a map-marking task and qualitative data analysis combining principles of qualitative content analysis and thematic analysis. The empirical study involved 18 adult Ukrainian refugees living in Neringa and 6 representatives of institutions and the local community. The two perspectives were analysed separately and later juxtaposed. The findings show that social assistance initiatives in Neringa functioned as a multi-layered integration mechanism. Formal institutional assistance provided basic stability through housing, benefits, food support, documents, children’s education and access to institutions. Organisational and civic initiatives responded to practical needs, while informal community support provided guidance, everyday care, emotional support and social acceptance. The small-community context facilitated personal contact and coordination, but long-term settlement was complicated by limited services, seasonal employment, housing insecurity, transport dependence and higher living costs. Place experience was also significant. Neringa was associated with safety, peace, nature, everyday routes and gradual attachment to place, yet belonging remained uneven because of language barriers, homesickness, uncertainty and material issues. Representatives tended to recognise integration through visible indicators, such as employment, children’s participation and reduced need for assistance, whereas refugees’ narratives revealed less visible needs related to practical Lithuanian language use, stable housing, non-seasonal work, health and psychological support, activities for children and adults, and clearer invitations to shared community life. It is concluded that social assistance was strongest when institutional solutions were combined with personal care characteristic of a small community. Sustainable integration requires coordinated long-term measures that strengthen independence, language use, housing stability, participation and a sense of belonging.