Problem solving

"Digital, Social and Civic Competences Development for Adult Educators Working with Migrants and
Refugees - DiSoCi"

Civic and social competence



Competence area Civic


Skill title Problem solving



Description of the skill

Ability to display solidarity and interest in solving problems of migrants and refugees affecting

the local and wider community.


Having this skill means that an adult educator, working with migrants and refugees:
 Is able to perceive the main problems that migrants and refugees face and find the best

possible solutions.

 Is able to involve this target group people into constructive participation in local
community and neighbourhood.

 Is able to create a positive dialogue between migrants, refugees and local residents.


Content application of the skill


This skill covers the person’s ability to solve problems in civic and democratic life. The problems

are related with personal rights (such as freedom of thought, conscience, expression, and
association and freedom of residence, movement, travel, health insurance, education, learning the

country’s official language), economic rights (such as the right to acquire, use and transfer
property, to choose one's work or change employment, to join a labour market, to establish and

operate a business, to enter lawful contracts) and political rights (such as freedom of speech,
press, assembly, and petition, as well as the right to vote and run for public office) as well as

responsibilities (respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others, participate in your local

community, etc.).
Problem solving in the citizenship context encompasses these aspects: identification of the

problem, consideration it from different points of view: migrants, refugees and local residents;
distinguishing the most urgent matter from secondary matters; coming up with alternative

solutions, choosing the most appropriate solution and implementing it.

"Digital, Social and Civic Competences Development for Adult Educators Working with Migrants and
Refugees - DiSoCi"

The effective problem solving is closely related to active participation of migrants, refugees in

local community life. Living in a democratic society every person should: a) be interested in the
close environment, b) critically assess the information and make conscious decisions in favour of

the neighbourhood, c) make critical comments and express one’s opinion, d) acknowledge the

importance of tolerance, e) develop social confidence, f) understand solidarity regarding other
social groups, g) join into non-governmental or voluntary activities, h) participate in various

socio-cultural integration programs.

Making decisions is very important in creating a positive dialogue and interaction between local
residents and migrants, refugees. Andrew Orton (2012) states that “positive interactions help

these people to effectively build networks of mutually supportive relationships with each other in
ways that contribute to a more cohesive society. This type of interaction provides a foundation

for improved relationships involving more than just a toleration of each other’s co-existence.
Instead, deeper relationships can emerge from an interactive process of relationship-building

that incorporates a developing empathy, mutual respect and dialogue between diverse individuals

and groups”. Problem solving through positive interactions enables community members to
recognize the contributions which migrants bring, provides a relational basis for resolving any

difficulties and conflicts that may arise in the process of integration, helps to build a cohesive
society that benefits everybody.



References/Links
1) Orton, (2012), Building Migrants’ Belonging Through Positive Interactions.

www.coe.int/t/democracy/migration/Source/migration/EnglishMigrantBelongingWeb.pd
f

2) M. Stimmann Branson, (1998), The Role of Civic Education.

http://civiced.org/papers/articles_role.html
3) Pilietiškumas ir pilietinė visuomenė. Nevyriausybinių organizacijų informacijos ir

paramos centras (2012). www.3sektorius.lt/docs/Pilietiskumas_analize_final_2013-01-
17_16_00_54.pdf


4) Social Problem-Solving. www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/social-problem-solving.html

5) https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ips/social-problem-solving.html