In 2016, I started this adventure of welcoming refugee families. Following the SolSal Service Mission, the Fundacão Salesianos welcomed some refugee families, all with children and young people.
In the light of Salesian Spirituality and Pedagogy, SolSal's mission is to accompany and (trans)form children and young people in situations of vulnerability or at risk and their families, giving them the skills necessary for a healthy social life.
The first family arrived in March of that year, followed by three others. The biggest difficulty was the language: they spoke only Arabic, which I don't know. It was also a fun process, wanting to communicate through Google translator and with gestures. With the children it was easier; after a few weeks of lessons, they already knew how to speak Portuguese.
It was something new for us and for them, as expected, especially in welcoming the first family. To begin with, they didn't remember what it was like to live in a country without war. They were terrified of planes, they had to learn to see planes as a means of transport for people and goods, not as a threat that can drop bombs while flying; being able to walk down the street and walk around, see the police or the military in uniform without being frightened ...
Cultural differences may seem obstacles, but sometimes they are what unites us: sharing habits, customs, traditions and, above all, gastronomy becomes a reason for coexistence and a facilitator of integration.
Not everything went smoothly, several problems arose along the way, many of which arose from the discrepancy between the approved laws and their actual implementation.
As families integrate into Portuguese society, we continue to accompany them to build their autonomy, some more autonomous than others, due to their characteristics.
The best thing is to see that they can already dream and think of a future. A future that has been brutally denied to them in their home country. Having participated in the integration process of these families, seeing them capable of rebuilding their lives, was and still is a unique and unforgettable experience.
I think it is important to welcome those who are looking for a safe place to live, as we would like to be welcomed one day, because we never know what the future might bring us - each of us could become a refugee!
