A roof for refugees

The number of world migrants is increasing constantly, reaching a total of almost 300 million of people a year who decide to leave their home Country for various reasons. 2014 registered the sad record of refugees forced to leave their homes because of armed conflicts. Over 50 million people had no other choice than fleeing the country because of the difficult situation in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan and in other African states, recently also Ukraine. Some of them sought help also in Slovakia and the national Caritas has been their main partner and supporter in the quest for a new home. Welcome and integration. "In 2014 most refugees arrived from Syria and Iraq. The ongoing conflict in Syria forced almost 2.5 million people to leave their homes. Although many of the refugees turned to their neighbouring Countries such as Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan in search for help, a few dozen people had to face a much longer journey and arrived in Slovakia", explained Jozef Kakos, project manager of Caritas Slovacchia. According to what he told SIR Europe last year this Country in the heart of Europe offered hospitality also to refugees from Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and Ukraine. "After several weeks spent in a special camp, refugees obtained a residence permit to live in Slovakia, thus began their integration process into Slovakian society", Kakos added. Past April Caritas Slovakia launched a project titled Raphael, which helped over 500 people providing advice in various sectors. "The Raphael project is aimed at supporting refugees living in the areas of Bratislava, Trnava, Nitra and Trencin, in Western Slovakia, covering all their basic needs. We have an office in Bratislava, where we provide a service of social, legal and psychological consultancy to refugees from developing Countries". Over 50 people from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia are presently taking part in a course in Slovakian languages, since the basic knowledge of the language is a requirement for social integration. "Our task is to try to help migrants overcome the most difficult period following their arrival, supporting their efforts to lean more about our culture and become valid members of society. We focus on their needs, regardless of their ethnical origin or religious belief", said Radovan Gumulak, General Secretary of Caritas Slovakia. Young migrants. In addition to Raphael, whose pilot project will end in March 2015, the Bkhita program has been successfully implemented for the past four years, its target are minors leaving their Country of origin to reach Slovakia without parents or adult guides. "We focus mainly on their optimal psychological and social development and on their adaptation to the new environment. The young migrants are placed in a special institute in Medzilaborce, where a team of expert psychologists, sociologists and pedagogists try to alleviate the suffering caused by tragic experiences", said Andrea Bobokova, coordinator of the project, who underlined "a great difference" between children and adults in terms of the ability to face negative critical situations". Many young migrants are under five. The murders and the armed strife they witnessed before leaving their homes caused unimaginable wounds, making them very fragile and sensitive before all kinds of difficulties. Often we spend months, even years, working on their poor psychological conditions", Bobokova pointed out. "Loving the marginalised". In their commitments with the refugees Caritas volunteer workers often reflect on the words of Pope Francis written on the occasion of the 101 World Day of Migrants and Refugees. "His message has a very deep meaning, bearing in mind that humanity is experiencing a rapidly growing phenomenon of migration, since many people are forced to leave their homes because their property and their lives are being threatened. The Holy Father invites us to love the marginalized, to discover Jesus Christ in the face of migrants and refugees who arrive into our Country in search for a better home", said the Secretary General of Caritas Slovakia, underlining that the words "respect" and "solidarity" have to be at the centre of the services offered to them. Some people could view the migrant population as a possible "threat" to peace, owing to recent tensions and tragic events in several Countries. For Radovan Gumulak – this reaction is understandable. However, he calls upon the citizens of Slovakia to be welcoming and approach migrants and refugees with Christian love and without prejudice. Large numbers of migrants recently arrived from Ukraine. "We feel a strong compassion for mothers with young children whose husbands are fighting a war or who have lost a life. There are many sad stories and human destinies deserving our attention", Gumulak said, conveying his hope in Slovakian people’s generosity for charity donations to them and confiding in the careworkers’ ability to provide support to those who are most in need.