Meet Patricia, Expert from Slovakia deployed in the EUAA Lithuania Operation.

 

Please introduce yourself, your background and your work with the Slovak Reception Authority

My name is Patricia and I am currently working at the Slovak Migration Office in the Department of Asylum Facilities. My colleagues and I are responsible for management of the Slovak asylum facilities. Since the outbreak of Covid-19 we are also coordinating and implementing regulations towards the Migration office and the facilities. 

Regarding my background, I am particularly grateful for the opportunity to work with and for different institutions active in the migration field. I also had a chance to deal with the topic of migration from an academic point of view during my PhD. studies of political and cultural geography.

From August to December 2021, you were deployed to Lithuania. What motivated you to apply?

To be honest, I never thought there would ever be an opportunity to be deployed in Lithuania. From the professional side, my home department is considered to be the one who develops contingency plans and supports the Office during the crisis times.

In 2015 I experienced the migration situation in Serbia. Comparison of policies and adaptation to the situation between the two fields is very enriching. Therefore I didn’t hesitate to apply.

Could you describe your experience in Lithuania?

The field experience is always unique and so far it is also very positive. In Lithuania I was deployed as an information provision expert and I was mainly working in the Medininkai camp which is next to the border with Belarus. During the first weeks, my colleagues and I were focused mainly on mapping of the situation and procedures. Later we launched a trial version of an information helpdesk tool and adapted the tool according to the field needs. For few weeks our activities needed to be postponed or changed due to confirmed Covid-19 cases in the camp. Finally, we are now providing information on a regular individual or community basis.

What did you learn during your deployment in Lithuania which you are able to apply to your everyday work in Slovakia?

Especially at the beginning of my deployment the situation was very unstable and changing and I realised how important it is to be flexible and open to new ideas or plans. I am also very grateful for my creative team colleagues with whom we are able to go through all the challenges smoothly.