“I miss my family, where I used to live, my home, and coming here is like starting over, coming to a place where you don’t know anything, you don’t have money, you learn how to speak, study to be able to work and earn money; it isn’t so easy. You don’t leave your family, your home because you want to leave; no, it’s because you have to.”
In these words, spoken by Naicol, a young indigenous man who lives in a shelter for Venezuelan refugees, under the coordination of Operation Welcome, in Boa Vista, Roraima, we can perceive the challenges faced by young people who live in a shelter situation.
According to data of the UN Agency for Refugees (UNHCR), 52% of the refugees throughout the planet are younger than age 18, who in their long journeys, are susceptible to suffering traumas resulting from abuse, neglect, violence, exploitation, trafficking, or even forced and irregular military recruitment
On this International Youth Day, celebrated today, August 12, it’s important to point out that, in spite of all the challenges faced by these young people, they continue steadfast in the lessons life imposes on them, without losing the capacity to dream and struggle for better days.
This date is also an important moment for celebrating the role of Youths in the forefront of global innovations and changes, and also to make them aware of the challenges this transformation requires.
Seeds of Tomorrow
“I would like something more; a stable future, a stable job, a house to help my family, who is in Venezuela; that is my objective,” dreams Edgardo, a young Venezuelan.
Created with the aim of offering free vocational courses and training workshops to the immigrant and refugee indigenous population, the Indigenous Cultural andTraining Centre (CCFI), coordinated by the Fraternity – InternationalHumanitarian Federation (FIHF), in partnership with Operation Welcome, makes it possible for young people such as Edgardo and Naicol to be able to achieve socioeconomic independence, and in this way, realize their dreams and become established with dignity in Brazil.
In addition to the various cultural, recreational and professional training courses aimed at young people, the CCFI offers activities such as: workshops on sewing, shoemaking, handicrafts, hair cutting, and food production; courses on entrepreneurship, customer care, sales and marketing, and the incentive to participate in fairs and events, for men and women who are interested.
May the example of young people such as Edgardo and Naicol, and all the immigrant and refugee youths of the planet, who dream of a better world for all, go beyond borders and reach hearts and minds.
The Humanitarian Fraternity (FIHF) wishes courage and resilience to all the Youth so they may walk on paths of fraternity and commitment to the building of the common good
