The theme of the World Day of Migrants and Refugees (14th January) proposed by the Holy Father Benedict XVI intends to underline the commitment of the Church not only in favour of the individual migrant but also of the family which is a place and resource of the culture of life and a factor for the integration of values. He proposes the symbol for Refugee Family: The Family of Nazareth in exile. (Mathew 2: 13-15)
(The World Migration Day theme emphasized the family and migration.
The colourful and overfilled suitcase is a synonym of the stories of migrants, of their culture, their traditions.
We can see attached to the collective memory of the suitcase all the stickers of the places traveled. These stickers are a testimony of the movements, the "mileage" of each migrant, each one of them telling a story. These well-known travel stickers have been "animated" and transformed into the bodies of a family. The heads of the family members have been painted with the colours of the missionary rosary to symbolize people coming from different continents.
The figurines are holding hands, to suggest the idea of union and even more so of solidarity and understanding. Above the image we can see the key words of the World Day of Migrants message: Family, Communion, and Diversity.)
The FMA Migrant Project
The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians gathered together at GC XXI in Rome during September – Nov 2002 solicited by the increase of immigration and ecclesial encouragement on the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the first missionary expedition from 1877 – 2002, considered the migratory phenomenon to be the focal point of the educational mission today. As a synthesis of this new historical sensitivity that came from the desire of the GC XXI, there arose the Migrant Project designating it as: a shared home for the diversity of people.
For FMA and for the Salesian Family the young people, children and immigrant women, the undocumented, the clandestine or illegal immigrants, are signs of the times – a true Kairos that challenges the Educating Community.
As FMA in the world of migration, our first call is to draw close and to approach.
The conflict between Sinhalese and Tamils in Sri Lanka started in 1956 when Sinhala was made the official language by the country’s President and large scale discrimination began against the Tamils.
1960s
The discrimination against the Tamil population continued throughout the 1960s as Buddhism was given the primary place in the state and the number of Tamils employed by the state and admitted into institutions of higher learning was greatly restricted. During this period the Tamils responded to their oppression largely through a political and a non-violent protest movement.
1964
Sri Lanka and India signed the Srimavo-Shastri pact (amended in 1974 by the Srimavo-Indira Gandhi pact) through which out of approximately 975,000 Upcountry Tamils, 525,000 people would be granted Indian citizenship and repatriated to India over the course of 15 years along with their natural increase
1970s
There was an increased trend towards Tamil separatism and militancy.
1978
Various militant groups had formed the group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which was in favor of a separate Tamil state.
1977 & 1981
There were outbreaks of violence between the Sinhalese and Tamil communities
July 1983
The violence escalated into riots throughout the country leading to the start of a civil war. Sri Lanka remained a war-torn country
1984
Repatriations were paused due to large scale violence in Sri Lanka and a subsequent refugee flow to India, only 337,066 Indian citizens in addition to their natural increase of 125,385 had been repatriated, while 84,141 and the natural increase to their families remained on the island awaiting repatriation to India
2002
Ceasefire between the Government and the LTTE in February 2002.
2003
Citizenship conferred on the Indian passport holders along with 84,000 Upcountry Tamils born in Sri Lanka after 1964.
Tamil Nadu – Refugee Camp Details
According to a rough estimate, more than 60,000 refugees from Sri Lanka have been accommodated in 105 camps in Tamil Nadu. Of these, Mandapam camp near Rameswaram and Kottapattu camp in Tiruchi are considered big camps. More than 19,000 refugees, who have arrived since January 2006, have also been given shelters in various camps. In Mandapam camp alone, just above 5,000 refugees are accommodated.
Problems Faced by Refugees
Srilankan Refugees are often seen as a threat and terrorist. They are cheated by the local people and suffer due to the enquiries regarding their caste and economical background. Constantly watched by the Q Branch –checking their connections to the LTTE
Poverty, Unemployment, Immobility, Fear, Worry about the future, Alcohol, Wasting time
Women
Lack of health care, no privacy, no recreation, fear, anxiety of the future, traumatic experience, sexual abuse
Children
No proper facility for education, recreation and health care
Youth
Lack of guidance, drop outs, love affair, sexual abuse, early marriages, no vocational education, lack of parental care, no proper record of educational qualifications, confusion, depression, lack of healthy recreation
FMA-INM in Refugee Services
Coaching Classes - English
Education Aid (School, College, Boarding/Hostels, Technical Schools)
Summer Camps (JRS)
Life Skill Training Camp
Staff Training Programme
Medical Aid
Full Time Service as Information Officer (JRS)
Service in the Camps (Making them feel at home, Counseling, Survey) by Novices, Juniors, Seniors
Spiritual Animation, Catechesis and Value Education, Liturgical Animation
Regular Visits
Future Thrust
Higher / Professional / Vocational Education
Reunion of Families
Job Placement
Visit to Srilanka to study the prospects of FMA Presence
Health Services
Youth Leadership Programmes
Networking with other agencies
The response to the migratory phenomenon requires a joint, group action, a networking strategy which uniting different forces, helps the young people to be aware of the seeds of good of hope and even of the elements of disintegration present in their lives and in the human community. It disposes them to welcome the new vision of a ‘United Family’ in the communion that Jesus has revealed to us. It is a family where ‘No one is a guest or a foreigner’, where cultural diversity is recognized and welcomed as a need for dialogue and an occasion for purification and reciprocal enrichment (cf Cir. M.Antonia Colombo 24th Sept 2003)
The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians gathered together at GC XXI in Rome during September – Nov 2002 solicited by the increase of immigration and ecclesial encouragement on the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the first missionary expedition from 1877 – 2002, considered the migratory phenomenon to be the focal point of the educational mission today. As a synthesis of this new historical sensitivity that came from the desire of the GC XXI, there arose the Migrant Project designating it as: a shared home for the diversity of people.
According to a rough estimate, more than 60,000 refugees from Sri Lanka have been accommodated in 105 camps in Tamil Nadu. Of these, Mandapam camp near Rameswaram and Kottapattu camp in Tiruchi are considered big camps. More than 19,000 refugees, who have arrived since January 2006, have also been given shelters in various camps. In Mandapam camp alone, just above 5,000 refugees are accommodated.
