On May 23, an initial group of nine Afghan refugees landed in Rome as part of a new 'work corridors' pilot project.

They arrived at the Fiumicino airport on a flight operated by a Pakistani carrier.

The pilot project is the first of its kind at the European level and is based on the positive results of the humanitarian corridors through which over 6,000 people have arrived in Italy over the past three years.

"The aim is to transfer to Italy a certain number of beneficiaries selected in third countries on the basis of criteria provided by national protocols signed with the Italian government, alongside the verification of professional skills so that they can find employment in Italy," said Oliviero Forti, head of the migration policies and international protection office of the Italian branch of Caritas.

The project is sponsored and implemented by the Italian Bishops Conference (CEI) through the Italian branch of the Caritas charity organization. It is part of the EU-Passworld project, which is co-funded through the EU's Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).

Company demand and refugee skills

The initiative is based on an innovative form of collaboration between the Italian branch of Caritas and the Communitas consortium, which ensures contact with companies, as well as company tutoring, work training and continued assistance.

This form of contact with potential employers helps to integrate the refugee into the labour market in a sustainable fashion.

Engineers, dentists and others in Florence and Milan

The first nine beneficiaries who arrived in Rome alongside three members of their families will be hosted by the Florence and Milan branches of Caritas.

The beneficiaries are civil engineers, graphic designers, dentists and other professionals.

Another group of six beneficiaries will arrive in June.

"Welcome, protect, promote and integrate: these are the reference words that Pope Francis gave us concerning our commitment towards migrants and refugees," noted Marco Pagniello, director of the Italian branch of Caritas.

"This project, which we hope can become a model at both the Italian and European levels, shows that it is possible to realise these four actions in such a way that everyone involved is a protagonist and benefits: the refugees, the communities, and the public and private sectors," he concluded.