THE ”Other” PEOPLES FILM FESTIVAL
The Scalabrini Institute for Human Mobility in Africa (SIHMA) and Refugee Social Services (RSS) are hosting the ‘Other' Peoples Film Festival for World Refugee Day this year with a Film Screening and Discussion on Monday 22 June 2020 at 14h00 SAST. The Festival is in commemoration and celebration of World Refugee Day on 20 June. The ‘Other’ Peoples Film Festival is an initiative started by Refugee Social Services and has been running for a number of years. The...
How the Migrant Youth are making a mark in Music and Art
Happy Youth Day! Youth Day in South Africa is on the 16th of June and commemorates the Soweto Uprising and pivot role of the youth. Youth and their contributions are celebrated and commemorated around the world with several Countries declaring a national youth day, along with the United Nations International Youth Day celebration on the 12th of August and the World Youth Day Celebration organised by the Catholic Church, celebrated by millions of people across the...
SIHMA supports call for states, donor, and other stakeholders to protect the rights of stateless persons in COVID-19 responses
As governments around the world are developing necessary plans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, 84 civil society actors have come together to urge states, donors & other stakeholders to protect and promote the rights of the stateless. Migrants, refugees, populations at risk of statelessness and the stateless themselves, are paying the highest price. Many are facing racism, xenophobia, denied access to critical health services and information on prevention and treatment. Additionally, many are fearful of...
Press Review May 2020
National Coverage How South Africa is denying refugees their rights: what needs to change The Conversation.com - May 12th 2020 South Africa hosted about 273,488 refugees and asylum seekers, of whom 84% come from sub-Saharan Africa, in 2018 - the latest period for which figures are available… The policy and law applying to refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa is largely progressive, [but] refugees in South Africa… face many challenges in accessing their rights to social protections...
Scalabrini celebration, 1st of June
On the 1st of June the Scalabrinian family of Fathers, Sisters, and lay people celebrated Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini (1839-1905). Founder of the catholic congregation of the Scalabrinian Missionaries of St Charles Borromeo in 1887. The Italian Bishop John Baptist Scalabrini was known as “The Apostle of the Catechism” and “The Father of Migrants”. The congregation started assisting Italians who were emigrating to America looking for jobs and a better future. Now it is present all over the world...
The Severe Effect of COVID-19 on Jobs for Migrants and Refugees
Albeit a slower start compared to European countries, COVID-19 has rapidly shown the long-term impact on both health and socioeconomic sectors in African countries. Vulnerable populations, especially migrants and refugees have experienced multiple disadvantages because of the swift imposed lockdown. Many migrants across the continent work in the informal sector, often have family members who rely on remittances, and are not eligible for government aid1. The impact of decreased remittances is, and threatens to be, devastating, for instance...
