Video series sheds light on refugee communities in Malta: their challenges, hopes and resilience as they build a new home in Malta
“I don’t feel like I’m in a foreign country. Malta is my home.”
These words by the Syrian carpenter Anas perfectly encapsulate the essence of an inspiring new video series which suggests that integration of refugees and asylum-seekers is possible when a positive outlook meets a welcoming host community.
‘Making Malta Home’, is a four-video series from UNHCR Malta, created in collaboration with the news portal and media production house LovinMalta. It has introduced viewers to refugees and asylum-seekers from Sudan, Syria and Ukraine, as well as the founding member of a refugee-led youth NGO, Spark 15.
Click on the videos below to enlarge.
All of the participants, each in their own way, have made Malta their new home, and the short videos offer a telling glimpse into both their joys and challenges as they set about rebuilding their lives on the island.
Mohamed from Sudan invited viewers to his halal butcher shop, situated in the centre of the bustling town of Paola, where he caters to a global village of varied clientele.
Anas from Syria spoke about his inspiring trajectory, which finally allowed him to proudly continue plying his trade as a carpenter in his new home country. Alexia, Anastasiia and Alex came to Malta from Ukraine at different times, showing the layers of continuity which also form part of the refugee experience, all the while a very real war rages back in their country of origin.
And finally, Dursa of the refugee-led youth NGO Spark 15 reminds us that the work of integration may be hard, but that education is a key part of the process, and that changing even one mind for the better makes it all worthwhile.
Watch all four videos on UNHCR Malta’s YouTube channel
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