Background

In 1999, the need arose in Portugalete (Bilbao, Basque Country) to attend the needs of the immigrants who were arriving in our town, almost all of Colombian origin. They arrived in very precarious conditions in search of work. Most of them were women who had left their parents, siblings and children behind. Many were pioneers, others were trying to reunite their families and above all to make a decent life for themselves. Since 2001, many more have arrived from other Latin American countries; they are young couples or single mothers with small children, many of them born in the Basque Country. Almost all of them work in domestic services. Some of these women come with university degrees from their home countries and take up jobs as they arise. Many of these women work as live-in caretakers for the elderly.

Objective
The project of the association is the socio-familial and intercultural integration of migrants in Portugalete, Bilbao. 

Activities

The activities are organised on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, from 17:00 to 19:30, in the premises of the parish of Nazareth. They focus on three principles:  to welcome, to integrate and to settle down.

To Welcome

  • Primary attention: Welcoming without discrimination of country, language or religion etc.
  • Meetings for:
    • General information on Spanish culture and way of life
    • Accompaniment to and orientation in social services and health care (registration, housing).
    • Socialising
    • Orientation on courses to improve their work
    • Various workshops and talks, etc.
  • Pastoral: To try to keep in mind and help not to forget about the practices, memories, experiences  migrants learned and lived in their countries of origin and in the different religions, which generally are: Christian (Catholic, Adventist, Pentecostal, Evangelical) and Muslim. So that all can unite to pray to the same God.

To integrate

  • Exchange of cultures
  • Presentation of the different projects:
    • Participation in important events of the Town of Portugalete.
    • Collaboration with projects of the Portugalete Town Council or other local associations regarding immigrants (Caritas, Doctors of the World, Cosmopolis, etc.). Also with the Services that depend on the Basque Government and the Provincial Council, Lambide (employment service of the Basque Country), Immigration Service to resolve or guide in the processing of papers, etc.
    • Participation at the level of the Basque Autonomous Community in events such as cultural week, congresses and exhibitions related to immigration.
    • Projects for social and labour integration:
      • Workshops
      • Job placement: meetings with families who are looking for a domestic worker, to check conditions, select people, make a certain follow-up, etc. (outside the association's meetings)
  • During the Sunday encounters: games and tutoring in the Basque language for the children, talks.
  • Training (health, social, religious, psychological, educational, etc.).
  • Raising awareness of the immigration issue in educational centres:
  • Members of the association giving testimony of their migratory experience to students (Ballonti Institute, Xaverian Centre).
  • To prepare the "people on the move" who are in the Association to take the reins and initiatives of the Association.

Enraiza

  • Exchange of cultures through :
    • Folkloric performances : dances, "Encendido de Faroles" (it has been celebrated since 2008) or "Fiesta de la Luz" (the 2nd Sunday of December).
  • Information on customs, language, geography, etc.
    • The "Rice Festival" in which each nationality makes a different rice dish typical of their country, followed by a rice degustation.            
  • Gastronomy and Leisure: Dinners and snacks of fraternisation. Excursions to get to know the environment.
  • Integration of the children in the field of education, dances and theatre.

Results

The experience of welcoming them helps them to have confidence and to be able to tell their difficulties, their dreams and their motivations to migrate, and to be a little happier.        

 

 

People being served

People being served : People who are marginalised

Number of participants : 51-100

Schedule

Project status : Ongoing

Images

Overview

Focus of the project : People

JPIC Imperative : Welcoming People on the Move

UN Sustainable Development Goals :