The Volunteer Asylum Seeker: a New Figure of the “Deserving Migrant”?

Abstract

Based on an analysis of volunteer programmes for asylum seekers in Italy, this article examines the emergence of a new figure of the “deserving migrant”: the migrant volunteer worker, who is grateful and active, and willing to perform unpaid activities in the public interest. In the Italian context, participation in volunteer programmes is seen as proof of the merit required of some foreign populations, especially those subject to asylum policies and incorporated into the system of accommodation centres, who thus have to show not only vulnerability, but also integration and civic commitment. However, there are gaps and room for manoeuvre between the display of integration and civic value conveyed by volunteer programmes and the actual practices of volunteer asylum seekers. The study of the tactics used to reappropriate, distance and circumvent unpaid activities reveals that the emergence of this figure of the deserving migrant, while creating competition and distinction between asylum seekers, is not immune to criticism and challenge of varying degrees of visibility.