Rebuilding Lives at the Borders – Conference

The Scalabrinian Centre for Migration Studies (CSEM) of Brasilia (Brazil) in partnership with Weltkirche of Germany, the Bienvenue Shelter in Johannesburg and the Congregation of Scalabrianians Missionary Sisters invited SIHMA to this interesting Conference on 4-6 December 2018, supported by the South Africa Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC), Radio Veritas and Lumko Institute. The results of researchers on migrants, refugees and people directly involved in serving these populations in the border areas of Angola-Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mozambique-South Africa, Mexico-United States of America and in three Dioceses in Italy were presented by the team of CSEM, as well as other existing experiences of different countries on migrants, refugees and returnees.

This occasion brought together institutions and actors to listen and reflect on the results of these studies, share their experiences in serving and assisting mobile populations, reflect on the demands and impact as well as challenges and the potential of the presence of migrants and refugees in local contexts.

Organizations working directly or indirectly with migrants and refugees, especially in border areas, where the challenges of human mobility are most striking shared their knowledge with the participants, representatives of church organisations, civil society and international organisations from ten different countries (Mozambique, Angola, DRC, Brazil, Mexico, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Zimbabwe and South Africa). Among the attendees: the Superior General of the Scalabrinian Missionary Sisters, the Director of CSEM, the Director of Weltkirche, Bishops of Dioceses directly involved with migration in Angola, Mozambique, and DRC, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Johannesburg and National President of CARITAS, and Bishop Duncan Tsoke, who attended the opening and closing ceremonies.

The SIHMA Executive Director was one of the moderators of the panels and member of the Commission who prepared the final Statement on the conference and disseminated at the Press conference. The Conference results will be published in 2019 in a book, in English and Portuguese, both in print and electronic version.

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Categories:

• Discussion

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Tags:

• Refugees