The "Finestre" (Windows) project consists of an encounter between a refugee and a classroom. This opportunity is addressed to high school and eighth grade students, and lasts for two school hours.

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The encounter begins with an operator of our association introducing the topic, providing information and data useful to show how the general perception of the phenomenon is often distorted. After this introduction, the word passes to a refugee coming from Asia, Africa, or Latin America who narrates his or her story: the reason why he or she left the country of origin, the journey towards Italy, the integration experience.

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In this way, refugees turn into teachers. They are not those who receive, but those who teach and bring something valuable inside the school. By listening to a story of migration and exile from the voice of a person who has experienced it firsthand, the students can perceive what it actually means to have such an experience, as well as how much people coming from different parts of the world have in common. The dialogue that arises during these encounters is the easier and safer way to broaden one’s horizons and free oneself of the fear of the “other”.

 

"Finestre" is a simple, quick and efficient way to bring the topic of forced migration inside schools. We ask schools for a small contribution, and any school can apply.

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It happens that after the encounter the students feel a greater curiosity about the topic, and ask to continue the project with us. For this reason, we plan for them some itineraries to deepen the topics they are interested in.

 

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FINESTRE FOCUS

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“Finestre Focus” is the name given to a series of one-hour encounters that may be requested following the “Finestre” activity. They are directed to high school and eighth grade students that after having listened to a refugee’s story, are willing to know more about migration.

 

The “Finestre Focus” encounters are independent from one another, and may be offered individually as well as combined in a cycle of meetings that offer students the opportunity to go more in-depth in a number of civic education topics. The topics of the meetings can be decided together with the teacher, depending on the needs of the class.

 

These are our proposals:

 

• The right to asylum: How does the application for international protection in Italy work; which are the rights of asylum seekers and refugees; which steps do they have to take in this process. And what about us? Why does migration concern us, as Italian and European citizens?

• Migrations, work and training: What does it mean to look for a job in a country different from the one in which a person was born and raised? What are the challenges? An attempt to put ourselves in the other’s shoes to understand migrants’ work integration process.

• Migrations and inequalities: Do inequalities migrate with us? Global inequalities as a cause of migration, with instances from Nigeria and Bangladesh, and local inequalities in our daily lives.  Sparks of active citizenship to go beyond cliches and prejudices.

• A look beyond the border: What happens in the Balkans and in the Mediterranean Sea, on the migration routes leading to our home? A reflection on “Fortress Europe” and on border defence at the expense of human rights.

• Human trafficking: The victims of human trafficking are modern slaves, brought to our country by criminal organizations to be exploited. How is this terrible business shaped? Does it exist in Trentino as well? A focus on the trafficking of Nigerian girls aimed at their exploitation in the prostitution business.

• Environmental migrations: More and more people are forced to flee their countries due to environmental disasters or adverse climatic conditions. Even though it is a global crisis, the effects of climate change are heavier in the Global South...

 

The minimum contribution required for each encounter (30% of the total cost of 100 euros) goes to support our projects in schools and other opportunities to raise awareness in the society. Every school can request one or more encounters, writing to scuole@centroastallitrento.it.