The Comparative Report of the European project LiLI – Life and Language Skills + Intersectionality for Migrant Women Integration offers valuable insight into the challenges that many women with a migrant background continue to face, even after spending several years in their host country.
The research, conducted in Italy, Germany, Greece, and the Netherlands, involved 133 participants, including migrant women and professionals working in the social and educational sectors. By combining the experiences of migrant women with the perspectives of those who support them, the study aimed to identify the barriers that still prevent many women from achieving genuine autonomy.
The findings highlight one key message:
Language skills alone are not enough.
Autonomy That Remains Incomplete
Many of the women involved in the research have been living in their host country for more than two years and have already attended language courses. Nevertheless, everyday life continues to present significant challenges that leave them feeling dependent on others.
Across the participating countries, between 45% and 80% of respondents reported needing assistance when dealing with administrative procedures or official communications. Even more striking, between 60% and 70% said they avoid certain everyday activities because they find them too complex, stressful, or anxiety-inducing.
These findings suggest that integration is not simply a matter of learning the local language. It also requires confidence, practical knowledge, and the ability to navigate essential services independently.
The Three Areas Where Difficulties Are Most Evident
The study identified three priority areas in which migrant women face the greatest challenges. Although each involves different practical situations, they all require a combination of language skills, decision-making abilities, and confidence.
Understanding Official Documents and Administrative Communication
The ability to understand official letters, administrative notices, forms, and institutional communications emerged as the most common need across all partner countries. Many participants reported struggling with bureaucratic language and feeling unsure about the steps they should take after receiving official documents.
Finding Employment
Employment-related challenges extend far beyond searching for vacancies. Women highlighted difficulties in understanding job advertisements, preparing applications, writing CVs and cover letters, participating in interviews, and interpreting the often implicit expectations of employers.
Health and Access to Healthcare
Healthcare was identified as one of the most sensitive areas. Describing symptoms, understanding medical advice, communicating with healthcare professionals, or navigating health services can become particularly challenging, especially during moments of emotional vulnerability or urgency.
Life Skills Matter as Much as — and Perhaps More Than — Grammar
One of the report’s most significant findings concerns the importance of Life Skills—the transversal competencies that enable individuals to effectively manage everyday situations and make informed decisions.
According to the research, participants placed particular importance on developing skills such as:
- problem-solving;
- critical thinking;
- decision-making;
- managing unexpected situations.
In other words, successful integration is not viewed simply as acquiring language proficiency. Rather, it is about developing the confidence and practical abilities needed to solve real-life problems independently.
This perspective also calls for a different approach to language education. Teaching grammar alone is not enough if learners still lack the confidence to understand an official document, make an important phone call, or ask for clarification in a public office.
The Invisible Barriers: Stress, Fear, and Lack of Confidence
Alongside the experiences shared by migrant women, the report also incorporates the perspectives of social workers, educators, and professionals who work with them on a daily basis.
According to many of these professionals, some of the greatest obstacles are not immediately visible. Fear of making mistakes, anxiety during interactions with public institutions, concern about being judged, and limited self-confidence often prevent women from fully participating in society.
For this reason, professionals identified several essential competencies that should be strengthened, including:
- stress management;
- self-awareness;
- assertive communication;
- the ability to ask for help or clarification when needed.
Towards a New Training Model
The findings of the Comparative Report clearly shape the direction of the LiLI Project: moving beyond traditional language courses and developing learning pathways that are closely connected to everyday life.
The project’s training catalogue will combine Microlearning, based on short and accessible learning modules, with the CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning) methodology. This approach aims to teach language through practical, real-life situations rather than through isolated grammar instruction.
The ambition is both simple and transformative: to turn language competence into a genuine tool for autonomy, participation, and active citizenship.