the metaphors we live by<\/strong><\/a>. Sometimes these metaphors fit easily into their new lives in foreign countries, sometimes not. We are challenged not only by differences in ways of living, beliefs, languages, ethnicities, but also by the hopes and expectations we hold that can add up to feeling of being jinxed by aliens and witches \u2013 our imagination is one of magic realism. <\/p>\n\n\n\nCovid19 and its not so subtle consequences seem to jinx us as asylum seekers and refugees: exclusion, prejudice, poor access to essential services, ignorance about our rights, lack of self-awareness or battering our hopes of achieving our true potential, and in some cases rampant contemptuous attitudes towards our aspirations and dreams \u2013 seeing us as worthy only of pity or disdain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For decades, I have been working with vulnerable communities, first in my native Venezuela and now in the UK. As a refugee myself who works to support migrants from diverse countries, I am convinced that, despite our differences, displaced people share a common dream: to be part of their new society by contributing to it. But we face a common obstacle: being treated as aliens, like a virus, only beneficiaries of the state, victims or villains. We are not permitted or we are not able to contribute our labour, skills and talents for the greater good in our new land. Instead, we must live on the margins, in the hope that one day we can become whole again and contribute wholly and fully to society \u2013 for mutual benefit. This is the mutual life we desire. Our mutual life is limited in the UK, due to restrictive laws that prevent us from exercising full human agency \u2013 working, contributing and living fully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If reciprocity is the fundamental value that binds people and societies together then surely the give and take between migrants and hosts should be encouraged and valued? This could of course be an endless discussion but I would like to separate reality from magic. Inclusion alone is not enough to build a society together. We need to aim at real integration as a total achievable goal but this can only be done by joining forces, by mutuality, reciprocity, respect, opening opportunities for all to succeed by fighting social inequalities and giving everyone a fighting chance to succeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The virus is an alien force, as indeed we often feel ourselves to be in our new countries. The virus too appears like magic, like a witch, trying to control us. Our instinct is to resist to defend and protect ourselves. Resistance is in our political DNA in Latin America and in diaspora. We may feel laws and restrictions and viruses jinx us, disable us, preventing us from contributing, but continue to nurture our hopes of a full life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Talking about Covid-19 among Latino asylum seekers and refugees. Have you ever seen an alien? A real alien? Despite the pervasive use of this term to picture foreigners, I guess the answer is no. Are witches real? Of course not! Not unless you visit a museum or thematic park. It seems nobody has ever seen… View Article<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4803,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\u201cI don't believe in witches, but if they fly, they fly" - COV19 Chronicles<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n