The Italian population today is bombarded with headlines that make them perceive migration as an alien invasion. This has stirred up feelings of hatred and fear among native Italians. Some blame their government while others blame the migrants. In the midst of this chaos, a migrant decided to start a new initiative and has been accompanied by many others.
However, the younger generation has begun to break the cycle. For example, they are participating in tours around Italian cities. As such there they can witness the plight of migrants firsthand.
What is the relevance of the migrant’s tours?
There are tours to discuss the history of several Italy cities. Some migrants have used the walking tours to tell their stories. For instance, they plead to be regarded as ”human beings” regardless of their ethnicity, nationality, race, or religion. A migrant’s decision to share their knowledge is challenging because they don’t feel accepted.
Though some progress has been registered, there is still a huge question. This entails how to engage the government completely and the older generation. Therefore, this acceptance quest is still daunting to several voiceless migrants.
The ‘Migrantour’ concept started in Turin in 2010. Amazingly, it has since spread to nine other Italian cities, including Bologna, Naples, and Florence. The tours cost an average of €12 and more than 150 guides are employees on a freelance basis.
What are the impressions of migrant tour guides?
“Our walks aim at giving value to the impact that foreign communities have had on our neighborhoods for centuries,” explains Rosina Chiurazzi, a migrant. He is the coordinator of Migrantour Turin and a guide herself. “Now more than ever, there’s a need in this country for initiatives that portray migrants as locals too, instead of pointing out their diversity,” she told the Guardian.
Secondly, Essediya Magboul (Moroccan) takes tourists to the Porta Palazzo market. There, she shows them a bottle of laban (a Middle Eastern yogurt drink). It was in a stall nearby. She comments, “It’s a Ramadan must.” Still answering questions, she takes them to an Arab-owned bakery. In there, there were samples of ghoriba (Moroccan) cookies.
Thirdly, another migrant, Monica (Romanian) explains to her group as she guides them around a Romanian butcher’s shop. She said,” When the Ceausescu regime fell, Romanians were finally free to leave the country and escape poverty.” ”Many, like my mother, landed a job in Italy as domestic workers. Having to grow up without a mother was my hardest challenge as a teenager,” she added. ”It seems absurd having to highlight it, but yes, we are human beings too” she sadly spoke.
Furthermore, An Italian vocational school teacher, Roberta Combo, took part in one of the tours. He intentionally wanted to understand her foreign students. “I wanted a chance to feel closer to them,” she said. “These encounters help us understand the struggle of having no choice but to leave your family and country for a bigger purpose, a pain we lucky ones often don’t know” she added.
In addition, Flavia Monfrini, the coordinator of Migrantour Catania commented that most Sicilian participants tend to be young but she hopes to engage older generations too. ”The current government is trying to brainwash us and make us think there’s an emergency we have to protect ourselves from” she sadly spoke. ”but the truth is that human mobility is, and will always be, part of our social fabric. Migration has always been the normality, especially here in Sicily.”
Recommendation
In conclusion, whether via the media or through education, the Italian government must disseminate truthful, realistic stories about migrants. Consequently, it will lead to social acceptance.
If you are a migrant and have lived in a country for a long time, this could be something you can consider doing.
The original post is published on August 15, 2019, by the Organization for World peace
