Thirteen families who fled their homes and found refuge in Malta have been taken in by parishes and religious communities across the island in a bid to help them back on their feet.
“We believe in insertion, not integration, as we are telling migrants that they are one of us and not just that they can live with us.
“Insertion is much more than integration, and the sooner society gets rid of its prejudices, the sooner we can live in harmony,” the director of the Emigrants’ Commission, Fr Alfred Vella said.
Fr Vella was speaking about a project which the Church in Malta launched this year through the Emigrants’ Commission to celebrate the Jubilee of Mercy.
Called Nilqgħu il-Barrani, it is inspired by works of mercy (l-opri tal-ħniena) and has seen the commission turning to parishes to host those seeking asylum in Malta.
The sooner society gets rid of its prejudices, the sooner we can live in harmony
Fr Vella is renewing his appeal to parishes that have not yet enrolled for this initiative. So far, three religious communities and seven parishes have taken up 13 families. While the Carmelite brothers have taken in an Eritrean family of three and the Dominican sisters are hosting a Syrian family of five, the Augustinians brothers are hosting two young Eritreans, one of whom is still a minor. The two brothers could not keep up with the rent of a garage.
“They were trying to live a normal life but had nothing apart from a rented roof where they could sleep at night. The project is aimed at those who are willing, but finding it difficult, to insert themselves within the community,” Fr Vella said.
The plan is to provide migrants with a home for one year until they find their own place and a job.
“We guide them throughout, and the commission also provides language courses. However, although we are at their beck and call, we do not want them to become dependent.
“By inserting them in the community, they can start leading a regular life like other residents and eventually contribute to society and the economy,” Fr Vella said.
The families are of different nationalities, with the Stella Maris parish welcoming a Bangladeshi family, the Rabat community sponsoring a Kurdish-Syrian family and the Qormi St Sebastian parish helping a Nigerian student at Mcast.
Iklin is helping an Ethiopian and an Eritrean family, and Attard is hosting an Ethiopian woman diagnosed with cancer. Mellieħa and the Gozitan diocese are hosting two families each.
One of the couples living in Mellieħa paid 24,000 for a visa to come to Malta, which they discovered was false once they landed.
This project comes at a time when xenophobia seems to be on the rise in Malta, but Fr Vella believes intolerance is only exhibited by a small group, and the commission is supported by a large number of volunteers and benefactors.
More information on how to help the commission is available on www.mecmalta.com/emmcomm.html.