“WHEN I TALK ABOUT MY ARRIVAL IN PORTUGAL, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO FOCUS ON ME BECAUSE I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THE THEATER GROUP AND THERE ARE ALREADY PORTUGUESE PEOPLE (...) SO I ENDED UP ENTERING SOCIETY SLIFTLY WITHOUT FEELING IT.”
Diaby
I'm from Côte d'Ivoire and I arrived in Portugal in 2007. When I arrived at CPR I joined the theater group (RefugiActo) and met refugees who were already here, and some Portuguese, who helped me with the important things of integration, such as: registration social security or the creation of a bank account, but also how the city works, where the party is held, etc. This gives courage, because it shows that if they can live here, so can I.
But there is another part that belongs to you, which is the will to be here. People do not have the same goals or the same priorities. There are people who want to seek asylum elsewhere, settle in and live there (...) or try to travel to another country. But this was not what I wanted to do.
It's easy for me to break the ice, I come from a country with over 60 ethnicities, I speak English and Spanish and it's easy to have a conversation. But for those who have no relationship here, it is very boring and these people become very dependent on the CPR (or host institution), because there is no one who makes them want to live. They don't have one or two friends to go see a football game or something to occupy their day.
“IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO RECEIVE, IT IS NECESSARY TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE DIFFERENCE. SOCIETY IS EASIER TO ACCEPT WHEN IT KNOWS PEOPLE'S CULTURE.”
At Comparte dinners, many refugees get jobs and houses thanks to the Portuguese, who exchange contacts, without asking for anything. We have get-togethers and dinners and talk about a topic and then relationships are formed.
In integration, it is important to clarify to refugees why it is important to work. Supports, you won't get all your life. There must be structures for the autonomy and independence of refugees.
The reception in Portugal, for me, is incomplete. There is a lack of training and awareness for society, host organizations and refugees and what you are creating (community sponsorship initiatives).
Community sponsorship is an important solution. But it has two sides: the community has to be very sensitive and there can be cultural clashes, because there are people who cannot be in a different country without their community. People have to be well selected from both sides.
I would have liked to have been welcomed through community sponsorship, but if it were today I wouldn't want to leave Lisbon!