In Malta, MOAS has established a notable reputation for supporting and assisting asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants. Through several initiatives, from education to hospital visits, MOAS fosters their integration into local communities and promotes their independence. Our mission is to support beneficiaries and continue to assist them in their educational path, so they can improve their autonomy skills and have easier access to local resources.
The importance of learning the English language for integration
As part of our initiatives on the island, MOAS provides “English for Beginners” courses to migrants and refugees in collaboration with Osanna Pia Home run by Salesians of Don Bosco, aimed to build confidence in reading, listening to and speaking English, which will help them to build connections and to access better opportunities.
With this regard, we would like to share with you the interview with, Steve, our English teacher who, once retired, decided to donate his time and knowledge to teach migrants and refugees basic English.
For how long have you been teaching English?
I’ve been teaching English on and off for more than fifty years. For twenty of these up to 2014 when I retired from full-time work, I did mainly other kinds of training combined with running a business, but have been doing more language training and teaching again since coming to Malta.
What prompted you to volunteer?
I’ve always done voluntary work when I could although for most of my working life, professional and family commitments made this difficult. Now that I’m semi-retired, I can give some of my free time to voluntary work again.
What is the most challenging aspect of teaching refugees?
[…] I think it’s challenging to be sensitive to the different cultural backgrounds of the people one teaches – for example, I have never been to sub-Saharan Africa so have no direct experience of life there; and it’s also challenging to deal sensitively with people who may have very difficult personal circumstances and who may have had very traumatic experiences in their own countries and/or on their way here, which, again, I have no personal experience of.
And the most rewarding?
It’s rewarding to build relationships with and get to know people from different places that I know so little about; and to see their English improving – when that happens, that is, since it doesn’t always!
What did you learn from this experience and the people you met?
The general experience of teaching refugees? I know more about the countries of sub-Saharan Africa and a bit more about what impels people from this region to leave their homes and try to reach Europe. I’m also probably more aware of events in Ukraine than I would be if I were not in regular contact with people from there. I’m much more aware of the impact of climate change in sub-Saharan Africa and of the conflicts there, and of movements of people within and out of the region. I’ve also learnt about the resilience of the human spirit from the Ukrainians and the young African men who have undertaken these journeys.
What would you say to young people to encourage them to volunteer. Do you have a message you’d like to share?
I think anyone doing this kind of work is going to learn about themselves as well as about some fellow human beings about whom they might not know much about. Volunteering is a powerful antidote to the systematic demonisation of migrants to Malta and elsewhere. It’s a constant reminder of our common humanity, sometimes frustrating, often lots of fun, sometimes rather moving. So, my message would be: go for it. Helping people communicate in the world’s leading international language will help their students develop as individuals, find jobs, and take educational opportunities; will – we hope – spread mutual understanding; and will be as rewarding for the teacher as for the students.
MOAS’ projects in Malta
Besides the English courses, MOAS runs several projects in Malta, intended to support migrant families and individuals, focused on continuing their education and boosting inclusion and integration.
The Remote Learning Initiative, started in 2020, provides tablets and modems to migrant families and students to help children and full-time adult learners keep up with their studies.
The provision of Information and Learning Centres in the refugee camps at Hal Far, one of our major projects, is intended to support educational opportunities through different tools, as well as CV writing workshops, job support and much more.
In 2021, we started the Family Hosting Project, a one-of-a-kind initiative intended to offer accommodation and integration support to migrants and refugees who wish to continue their secondary education. Recently, the project has been expanded with the Sponsorship initiative, which includes social support, guidance, and family interactions within the community.
Furthermore, with Hospital Visits we ensure that migrants -evacuated from SAR vessels – who are receiving health treatments feel supported and have proper access to services.
Moreover, in response to the heatwave that severely impacted Malta in the past months with temperatures approaching 50 degrees, we donated 1,400 litres (700 bottles) of drinking water and 700 doses of re-hydration mineral salts to migrants residing in reception centres, particularly affected by this emergency.
Final Thoughts
Integration and inclusion are the pillars of a proper migration policy, which includes appropriate tools to facilitate the reception and support of migrant communities. With this regard, MOAS is fully dedicated to this commitment, and the above-mentioned projects prove the importance of leaving no one behind. Thanks to our partners and your contributions, we can keep supporting migrant communities on the island, and provide basic- but essential services, crucial for building a life according to their own virtues and needs and not settle for less.
If you are interested in the work of MOAS and our partners, please follow us on social media, sign up to our newsletter and share our content. You can also reach out to us any time via [email protected]. If you want to support our operations, please give what you can at www.moas.eu/donate.
