Brian Arnoldi
My internship experience at SIHMA lasted from September 2024 to December 2024, for a period of just over three months. During my time at the Scalabrini Centre in Cape Town, I was responsible for tasks such as creating content for the research center’s social media, developing an editorial plan for SIHMA’s social accounts and blog, and writing blog posts for the center. I also supported SIHMA’s research efforts on migration, policies, and integration processes in South Africa, across Africa, and globally by attending conferences and expert meetings. Finally, I contributed to the development of the Atlas of African Migration by producing maps, charts, and infographics to complement the texts written by the center’s researchers.
From a professional perspective, my time at SIHMA was profoundly enriching in many ways. I had the opportunity to engage with tools and tasks relevant both to my academic background (in the humanities and political science) and to my professional aspirations (in academia and journalism). I learned to use key software widely adopted in major professional settings, gained first-hand experience in teamwork, and learned the importance of collaboration with colleagues. The ongoing and fruitful discussions with Fr. Filippo, Muluh, and Rachel allowed me to explore research topics from a perspective different from the European (and Eurocentric) framework that has shaped my academic journey. This new paradigm—anti-colonial and impartial—enabled me to approach my written contributions for the center, as well as my master’s dissertation, with a broader and more critical outlook.
On a personal level, I cannot help but look back with nostalgia at my time in South Africa and, in particular, the months I spent at SIHMA. Although my experience ended some time ago and I am now on the other side of the world, I still feel part of the SIHMA family. I am deeply grateful to the entire team for making me feel welcome from the very first moment and for showing me a way of life different from what I was accustomed to in Italy. One piece of advice I would give to anyone considering an internship at the Scalabrini Centre is to try and be as open-minded as possible: get to know your colleagues and their stories, be curious about the world of migration and about South Africa itself.