Courses for social, professional, and housing empowerment for asylum seekers and refugees in Rome.
In June, The Rome Città Educativa started hosting training sessions for Project Living the City Competently. Together with our partners, we are helping 90 asylum seekers and international protection beneficiaries with inclusion courses to help them “feel at home.” The partnership, coordinated by the Federation of Evangelical Churches (lead partner), includes the Fondazione Mondo Digitale, ActionAid International Italia, and Fondazione Adecco per le Pari Opportunità.
Onelia Onorati, with the help of digital civil service volunteer Francesco, put together the stories, dreams, and opinions of some participants. The names have been changed to ensure their safety.
Andrès, 45, Colombia
My story. “I have been in Italy since April. I am here because I would like to build a better life than the one I had before and find a job. I come from a large family; in my country, I worked in the shoe sales business. What drove me to leave, in particular, was the perception of an unsafe life. The shop was on the road, in a context where there was a lot of corruption. I am part of the LGBTQ+ community and I did not feel protected by public authorities. My dream is to bring my sister and my niece here, too, and support my family financially.”
Learning about the project. “When I found out about the project, thanks to my Italian school, I thought I could retrain for a different job, like working in a company, for example. So far, I have learned to use the Office package, e-mail, and to work with images, as well as create my resume.”
Sanaa, 40, Algeria
My story. “I have been in Italy for two years with my husband and two children. He has a job, but I don't. We have moved to many different countries and it's always a matter of starting over again. I would like to feel part of a human fabric and fit in. In Algeria, I graduated in communications, but I have never worked on what I studied. I dream of returning to my country and finding the job I’d like.”
Learning about the project. “Thanks to the Italian language school I learned about this course to enrich and renew my old knowledge about digital tools. I no longer remembered how to fill out a spreadsheet or use a word processing programme, for example! This is a fundamental exercise for me because in addition to giving me a chance to fit in in Italy, it also makes me feel more involved in the lives of my children, who have to learn to use technology. So I can also guide them better! It is very nice for me to follow the course. I loved the welcoming environment.”
Iulio, 23, South Sudan
My story. “I lost my family during the war when I was only two years old. After arriving in Libya, I came here with the help of the UNHCR. I chose Italy because I can train despite my disability. I have been here for a year and five months and in September I will start attending secondary school. In the first five months of my stay here, I did not know anyone. Then, everything changed when I joined an amateur football team for people with disabilities. My life took on a different rhythm. I started a tournament around the country with trips to San Marino, Turin... Now, I have fun, I am fine, but I am also thinking about a job that I’d like.”
Learning about the project. “I like learning how to use electronic devices. I want an active life, and I want to feel useful. Today, I practiced writing a document and sending it by email. I feel that in this way I am simplifying my life, I am learning something that will help me to be part of society. I will finally be able to do something different from what I dreamed of at the beginning, and that I could not do because of my disability and the war: be a mechanic.”
Saudie, 20, Burkina Faso
My story. “I had family problems, as my father abandoned me, my mother, and my sister. My mother then died when I was 14, so I was left alone with my sister, who helped me grow up. I left our country with my sister to go to Nigeria. There, we had problems related to drug trafficking and escaped to Libya. Then, at 16, we arrived at Lampedusa in Italy, by boat. At first, I lived in Rome, where I studied Italian. Then, I moved to a small town in the province. In my free time, I go by train to Roma Termini. There, at the station, I meet other kids from my country with whom I hang out.”
Learning about the project. “I really like what we are doing. In Africa, I already knew how to use a cell phone, but I would really like to learn how to do everything possible with digital tools. It’s a way to develop my full potential. However, my dream is to be a carpenter, even if I’m also looking for other jobs.”
