Pedro Arrupe Award winners travel to Malta
SPANISH WINNERS COME FACE-TO-FACE WITH MIGRANTS IN MALTA

Monday, 31 August – At the end of August, the final stage of the Pedro Arrupe Award 2008-2009 was completed, with the three Spanish winners of the under-19 category (Marima Albert Bernad, Galla Rouras Kurtado, and Laura Sanchez Llorena) travelling to Malta for face-to-face contact with young migrants and refugees. JRS Europe Projects Officer, Ms Carola Jimenez, and a class tutor accompanied the students.

The visit was spread over three days and allowed for exchanges with migrants and various authorities on the migration and asylum question in Malta. The group spoke with Dr Katrine Camilleri of JRS Malta, staff members from Médecins Sans Frontières, the Organisation for Integration and Welfare of Asylum Seekers (OIWAS) and UNHCR.

The students also had the opportunity to visit 'The Hangar' and 'The Hal Far Open Centre' facilities. Here the realities of these centres were realised by the students and they were shocked by the conditions they saw. At the centres, the students talked with a number of young men from Somalia, some of whom have been living in these conditions for two years.

Prior to visiting the open centres, the students had met with John Hart, a doctor working in the Maltese open centres. He told the students of the trauma people in these centres go through, stating a large number of his patients suffer from severe psychological problems. In addition, he stated that a greater percentage of people in the open centres suffered from psychological problems than those in the detention centre, pointing to the migrants struggle through the contrary dichotomy of freedom and entrapment.

To conclude the visit, the students met with Fr Alfredo Vella, Director of 'Dar l-Emigrant'. This organisation belongs to the Diocese of Malta, and are partnered with the government to provide accommodation to the most vulnerable of migrants. A visit to the Balzan Open Centre followed this meeting. The conditions in this centre, an old convent from the Good Shepherd Sisters, were found to be much better than those in 'The Hal Far Open Centre' and 'The Hangar'.

Before leaving Malta, the students enjoyed lunch with Fr Joesph Cassar and the JRS Malta team. Here, Joseph summarised the Maltese situation and helped the students to evaluate their experiences.

JRS Europe would like to extend our utmost gratitude to all at JRS Malta who helped facilitate this visit and organise a programme for the students. As with every step of the Pedro Arupe Award, we rely on the assistance of national offices and are very appreciative of the work offices put into this important awareness raising project.