January 13, 2007

Migrant’s Foundation  - Italian emigrants living overseas  - Italians not living in their place of origin  - foreign immigrants and refugees  - Rom and Sinti nomads  - people living in circuses  - people working in maritime and air travel.  - Italian emigrants living overseas  - Italians not living in their place of origin  - foreign immigrants and refugees  - Rom and Sinti nomads  - people living in circuses  - people working in maritime and air travel. The Migrant’s Foundation is a Catholic-inspired organism promoting welcoming attitudes towards immigrants and the valorisation of their identity in the community The activity of the Foundation is directed towards :

In the main hall for World Migrant Day 2007 Main theme : the family, parable of communion in diversity

Sara Vatteroni introduces the theme of the meeting Family home = place where different individuals live together, collaborating with mutual respect Talking about the family helps understand the problems related to migration Family home = place where different individuals live together, collaborating with mutual respect Talking about the family helps understand the problems related to migration

Group work :  what “family” means to us  how we relate to others in the family  what “family” means to us  how we relate to others in the family

A speaker for each group illustrates the ideas written up on large sheets of card

Positive aspects of the family  Sexual relationship  Affection  Happiness → family unity, complicity  Mutual exchange of knowledge (parents-children, children-parents )  Sexual relationship  Affection  Happiness → family unity, complicity  Mutual exchange of knowledge (parents-children, children-parents ) Negative aspects of the family  Lack of freedom  Acceptance of responsibility  Lowering of lifestyle due to economic needs  Risk of divorce  Need to sacrifice your career (especially for women)  Lack of freedom  Acceptance of responsibility  Lowering of lifestyle due to economic needs  Risk of divorce  Need to sacrifice your career (especially for women)

Iman Koudsi explaines the family according to the teachings of the prophet Mohammed :  Fundamental pillar of society  It’s essential that children respect their parents, take care of them in their old age and speak to them with respect  Fundamental pillar of society  It’s essential that children respect their parents, take care of them in their old age and speak to them with respect

Clara Zanon, explaines the family according to Protestant thinking :  family and sexuality are part of God’s good creation  matrimony is not a sacrament, although two believers can ask to be blessed in church, and for this reason may divorce and remarry

 children are the nucleus of the family  besides economic sustenance, love and affection, rules and good manners are needed  parents must teach children to understand what is essential in life  children are the nucleus of the family  besides economic sustenance, love and affection, rules and good manners are needed  parents must teach children to understand what is essential in life Luca Bontempi tells us about the family according to Catholic faith and about his own experience :

Ivonne Tonarelli tells us about the concept of the family in circensian people ( travelling with a circus ) : It is indispensable as it is the only stable point of reference

Our Impressions Negative aspects :  not dealing with the difficulties immigrants meet  no focus on the problems immigrants bring Positive aspects :  educational and interesting day  better understanding into what people from different cultures think  working in groups is enjoyable  everybody’s opinion about the family is expressed

Brief “Glimpse at the Press” Here are some declarations released on World Migrant Day by important people in Italian social life Pope Benedict XVI Massimo D’Alema, Foreign Minister Rosy Bindi, Minister for the Family “Migrants’ families are like the family of Nazareth, because of their fragility, hardship, and suffered humiliation “ “Migrants’ families are like the family of Nazareth, because of their fragility, hardship, and suffered humiliation “ “The reunification of families is right. It is indicative of a civilised state and enriches the society of a country” “The reunification of families is right. It is indicative of a civilised state and enriches the society of a country” “Reunification is important because the family is the place where identities are formed”