Asociación Projuven interviewed La Asociación de Apoyo al Pueblo Sirio – Andalucía on its work in the field of refugees and migration.
The main objective of the Asociación de Apoyo al Pueblo Sirio – Andalucía is to help civil population in search of refuge, independently of its religious creed and its political ideas. Their funding comes from private donations. Its work start from direct help in refugee camps or areas of conflict within Europe to the support of refugees from elsewhere who are already coming to our land. In addition, the association organizes educational courses, awareness-raising, idiomatic and cultural integration seminars.
What are the biggest challenges you face in your daily work?
The biggest challenge is to get the titanic and daily work of each volunteer to benefit the migrants. In the absence of public subsidies,in response,we must constantly devise ways to bring some value to the society; we can provide funds that we can translate into direct aid to shelter applicants or subsidiary protection, both in Spain and away from our borders.
What do you think would be needed in Spain to promote the integration of immigrants?
I think it is most evident that Spain needed a lot of work, at all levels, to promote acceptance and the inherent social integration. In the first place, a political conviction that it does not exist, either for ideological or economic reasons. Without this conviction and determination of the high spheres that hold the power of change in the country, the road will be slow. Citizenship, much more sensitive than our political representatives, is dragging parties and institutions, but it has only succeeded in overcoming minor issues. Transcendental matters, such as the establishment of a safe passage through the Mediterranean; The withdrawal of the Melilla Fence; Respect for the host fee; The speeding up of bureaucracy; The halting of the sale of nationally-registered arms to Saudi Arabia; Or the maintenance of the economic benefits granted to the people arrived in our territory, are battles that are still to be fought.
What kind of activities and events are you doing to raise awareness about the problem of refugees in Spain?
We hold awareness talks for children in schools; Days of debate and awareness raising for adults; Arabic-Spanish idiomatic and cultural exchange (every Friday in Seville); Demonstrations, marches or protests to claim the rights of migrants; We financed a bus ticket for refugees living in Seville; We organize concerts, recitals of poetry, theater events to raise funds for our projects; We financially support projects of other associations (usually in Greece-Turkey-Serbia); We develop international projects of support to the migrant population, such as #SiguiendoTusHuellas, from which you can know much more in our social networks. We have also carried out a number of campaigns to collect and send humanitarian material to Greece and Turkey, although this line of work is currently paralyzed.
How would you encourage anyone who is thinking about volunteering?
It takes no more courage than to observe a world that is tremendously unjust, unequal and violent, and believe that it is possible to improve it. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), some 65 million people around the world have been forced to flee their homes to save lives.
Think, what happens if you are touched? Would you like to be helped?
