Imagine being forced to flee your country, perhaps due to war, poverty, or natural disasters. This is the reality for over 2.5 million Afghans who are now refugees in various countries around the world, along with 3.5 million internally displaced persons who remain in Afghanistan as refugees. It's the result of 40 years of invasions, coups, and conflicts that have left the country in a continuous crisis. In this dramatic situation, hope and concrete help come from the actions of the Comunità di Sant’Egidio. For years, the association has been committed wherever there is the greatest need, in peace education for children and adolescents, in the fight against poverty, in humanitarian corridors, and in the reintegration of the most vulnerable people into society. Thanks to a humanitarian corridor organized by the Comunità di Sant’Egidio, in collaboration with Italian authorities, 1,200 Afghan refugees have found hope for a new life in Italy since August 2021. It is to 300 of them that the initiative we support is addressed, the Project Integration for Afghan Refugees. What is its goal? Integration and autonomy paths have been organized for Afghan refugees so that they could truly create a new life outside their country, moving beyond the initial reception phase and realizing themselves as individuals. The 300 refugees welcomed in Rome and Milan have received support in various areas: they have learned the Italian language and culture, have been supported in their studies and job placement, have received healthcare support, and, finally, have been helped to socially integrate. The role of cultural mediators is fundamental, as they are involved from the beginning to the end of the integration process for the people involved: often, these mediators are men and women who have experienced life in refugee camps or the journey to Europe, and can thus establish a deep empathic connection with the refugees they help to integrate. Learning a language, embarking on an educational or employment path may seem like normal stages in the lives of the majority of people, even taken for granted. But for the 300 Afghan refugees supported by the Comunità di Sant’Egidio, these simple steps are much more—they are the first steps towards a new life, a life full of those normal things that unfortunately are not yet normal for everyone. Details: Location: Rome and Milan Association: Comunità di Sant’Egidio Beneficiaries: 300 Afghan refugees Contribution: €200,000 Duration: September 2022 – June 2024
