What we did | May23
As summer approaches, ASCS continues to meet with many people in many cities. We told you about the schools where we go to talk about people in motion: in May alone, hundreds of boys and girls played The Game and participated in Pick Your Size workshops on the topic of Freedom of Movement. On May 6 and 7, 800 young people played The game in Castelleone and Viadana., thanks to collaboration with educators from Cremonese oratories. The proposal is part of the training path of the animators of the summer oratories of the Diocese of Cremona who have identified care as the central theme of this year.
The Game is a role-playing game in which several groups, for up to 15 people, experience borders, migration-related choices and many other challenges. This workshop has the name given by migrants to the nearly impossible path full of challenges and rejections that starts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran and Syria, crosses the Balkans and arrives at our doorstep. Every day 50 people with a long journey behind them arrive in Trieste on foot. We also delved into the issue with the Crossover event in Venice, thanks to the presence of the association Along the Balkan Route, which told us about the radical choice and daily commitment to break the chain of injustice.
The Game grew out of a firsthand experience along the Balkan Route by a group of ASCS youth with the project “Unbroken Humanity“, from which a choral book was also born. Since then we have been closely watching all other migration routes, not just the Mediterranean route, by placing ourselves at the borders and being with people in transit.
For many young boys, the journey does not end in Trieste. Their purpose is to reunite with friends and compatriots scattered throughout Italy, and many of them arrive in Rome. We met many of them at the listening desk ASCS at Most Holy Redeemer Parish, where we have been working together for months in support of the local migrant and indigenous community. Basic Italian course, job search, legal guidance were just some of the activities made available to people in the area. For the Route boys, orientation to the services the area offers and their rights, as well as learning Italian, was necessary.
In Rome, we took to the streets for Komen’s Race for the Cure. Each year, our partnership with this organization allows us to offer migrant women free prevention screenings. After those in the Health Village on May 4,5,6, we will host Komen on June 28 for a prevention day in the Scalabrini House 634 neighborhood.
The World at Home project continues in Milan. In May we met Greece and Zambia. These were two evenings full of encounters and we thank the volunteers, guests and associations that participated: Association of Zambians in Italy (AZI), CELIM, 7milamiglialontano, Slow Food, Mafric, Sagapò – Greek Street Food, Afròs Band and Gruppo Danze Greche Milano. Upcoming dates are June 9 with Afghanistan and June 17 with Mexico. We will conclude on the 23rd with a very special final evening, we look forward to seeing you!
Continued work with and for migrant women: On May 12, we reported on the Wasi projectas part of the presentation of Slaves No More’s Report 2022 “Severely Exploited Women” at the European Parliament Liaison Office in Italy.
We were again in Oulx for an episode of Confine with a group of 30 young people who are preparing for a mission experience through the Diocese of Brescia. We were supportive of the Fraternità Massi Refuge in Oulx and walked in the steps of those who, starting from Claviere, try to cross the French-Italian border to continue their migratory journey. Rejections and stories from around the world, mixed with the humanity of those who, in support of the transients, try to restore dignity to people traveling through this territory. We then met the Franciscan Sisters of Susa and Fr. Luigi Chiampo, with their resilient action to support the most vulnerable.
After the weekends at the Borders, service, training and sharing proposals are ready for young people who want to know and be active for and with migrants. Also this summer, from July to September, the seven camps of the Attraverso23 project will be held: also go to ascs.it/attraverso23 and live this experience! We are waiting for you!
Before we say goodbye, we want to remind you that in view of your next tax return, you can choose to Support ASCS by allocating your 5×1000. Tax Code 03133600241. The activities we have told you about are also carried out because of this small gesture that can really make a difference to us.
Keep following us on ascs.it to stay updated and to find out how you can support our activities. Thank you!
