JRS Austria’s “Locugee” project: building bridges, fostering integration

Alberto Ares, director of JRS Europe, recently visited the JRS Austria country office and the innovative project “Locugee: Awakening Potentials.” Accompanied by P. Martin Rauch, local staff, and volunteers, Alberto Ares explored the various aspects of the initiative, sharing in the spirit of hospitality and integration that defines the project. 

The term “locugee”—combination of “local” and “refugee”—captures the essence of the project: building bridges between communities through shared living, learning, and engagement. The project is structured around four interconnected programs: 

• LocugeeLiving: A co-housing program where young people with a refugee background live together with older locals. The goal is to create spaces for everyday encounters, mutual earning, and solidarity across generations and cultures.
• LocugeeLanguages: Launched in July 2022, this program focuses on language acquisition as a key to integration and empowerment. With the motto “German + Work = Future in Austria”, the initiative offers tailored language instruction with a special emphasis on Arabic-speaking participants, who represent the largest group of beneficiaries in Austria.
• LocugeeHelp: This component responds to the diverse and evolving needs of the refugee community. A recent initiative includes collecting and donating used hearing aids, which are being refurbished and sent to communities in the Middle East. This reflects the project’s broader vision: extending care and connection beyond borders and addressing specific challenges with compassion and creativity.
• LocugeeAdvocacy: Raising awareness and fostering public dialogue are essential to JRS Austria’s mission. This program seeks to amplify migrant voices in the public sphere, challenge prevailing narratives, and promote a more just and welcoming society. By creating platforms for encounter and understanding, it helps build a community where everyone—regardless of origin—feels seen, heard, and valued. 

“Locugee” is not just a project; it is a movement toward a more inclusive and hopeful future.