Building New Futures in France: Language, Skills, and Support for Refugee Livelihoods

Building New Futures in France: Language, Skills, and Support for Refugee Livelihoods 

As part of the Livelihoods Project supported by the Linsi Foundation, JRS France is working to remove barriers and create new opportunities for refugees, asylum seekers, and vulnerable migrants across the country. The project, active in eight countries, emphasizes socio-economic integration through language learning, skills development, and strategic partnerships. 

In France, one of the key challenges for displaced individuals is the language barrier, which often delays or prevents access to employment and education. For many, even with past professional experience—particularly in the medical field—credential recognition and complex administrative procedures stand in the way of rebuilding their careers. JRS France meets these challenges with a flexible, individualized approach that places refugees at the center of their own integration journey. 

Operating in Paris, Nice, Grenoble, Lyon, and Versailles, JRS France offers a wide range of support services, including in-person French language classes, job-readiness workshops, and personalized coaching for employment or education pathways. For former doctors, nurses, and technicians, the organization provides specialized orientation to help navigate requalification in the French medical sector. 

Soft-skills development plays a critical role in JRS France’s approach, equipping participants with tools for interviews, workplace communication, and cultural adaptation. Corporate partners like Galileo Global Education and TENT collaborate with JRS to offer pathways to higher education and entry into the labor market. Still, resource limitations and the need for long-term employer engagement remain ongoing priorities. 

Participants—most of whom come from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Syria—face various legal statuses, from pending asylum claims to recently granted refugee protection. Their backgrounds range from no formal education to university degrees, with previous work experience spanning self-employment, caregiving, and medicine. JRS helps bridge these gaps with administrative support, career planning, and tailored job-search strategies. 

Stories of Success: Zaker and Xhemile 

Zaker, a young man from Afghanistan, found more than just language instruction at JRS. “Attending JRS classes was life-changing,” he recalls. “The teachers were exceptional, and their methods helped me quickly learn the language. These courses not only enabled me to gain university admission but also gave me a sense of belonging. JRS became more than just a school—it became like a second family.” 

Xhemile, originally from Albania, arrived in France in 2021 with subsidiary protection status. With the support of JRS, she completed internships that helped her build local experience. After working in caregiving and housekeeping, she found stable employment and a sense of purpose. “I recently completed training and signed a permanent contract as a housekeeper at Le Méridien Hotel in Nice. Thank you, JRS,” she says with pride. 

JRS France’s model—centered on language mastery, personalized coaching, and strategic partnerships—is helping forcibly displaced individuals rebuild their lives in France. Strengthening pathways to advanced training, increasing employer collaborations, and accelerating credential recognition are the next steps in turning resilience into opportunity, and newcomers into valued members of society. Read more about the Livelihood project here: https://jrseurope.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2025/06/LIVELIHOOD-REPORT-2025-2.pdf.