The 21st century is the age of new technologies, progress, competition in the construction of high skyscrapers that touch the clouds. Even in such an age, it is almost unbelievable to believe that somewhere in the middle of the merciless sea, people are trying to find a way to escape. A path that will bring them a better tomorrow.
When the term “refugees” is mentioned, we will most often think of those who come from Ukraine seeking salvation from the current war, but we will least likely think of those who come from other continents – Africa, Asia and the Middle East. African theologian Mvombeki, in an interview with DW in November 2022, says that the conflicts in Africa are not being given the necessary attention. Currently, conflicts are taking place in Sudan, Ethiopia, Cameroon and other parts of Africa due to which many innocent people are losing their fight for life.
They pack their lives in small bags and board wooden boats, in order not to cross the sea to Europe and find salvation from hunger, exhaustion and conflict.
A recent case that has received little media attention is the case of 92 refugees, mostly from Afghanistan, Syria, Morocco, Pakistan, Bangladesh, who sailed to Turkey by boat and tried to find a way to Greece, in order to find salvation, and on the Greek border they were found naked and barefoot.
This is one of the cases included in the statistical data that show that in the month of August, as many as 50,000 refugees tried to enter Greece, and that the path of over 150,000 refugees was blocked.
In the other direction, towards the Central Mediterranean, which is one of the most dangerous migration routes, refugees from Africa have been sailing towards Italy for months, crammed into boats. It is known that over 20,000 migrants have lost their lives on that road since 2014.
Non-governmental organizations such as SOS Mediterranee and Sea-Watch have saved thousands of people from the sea. They are complaining that the countries ignore the call for help.
At the end, somewhere in the middle of the merciless sea, fragile people struggle with the waves, in order to find salvation and peace.
The first activity was held in the Richmond Park College in Sarajevo and youngsters had full attention and participation in discussion and workshop.
More about AHEAD project:
AHEAD project aims to promote between youngsters non–discrimination and to combat racism, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance against Roma and other Ethnic minorities (mostly migrants). Partners jointly work on innovative good practice approaches, human rights-based narratives, training, official regular meetings, and European awareness raising campaigns. The project promotes inclusion, tolerance, mutual and multicultural understanding, and fight Roma, ethnic minorities, and migrants in Europe through an innovative approach that combines research, training (national and international) on antidiscrimination and on hate speech, round tables, seminars, the exchange of good practices, meetings between different representatives, stakeholders, CSOs, and youth associations, and a massive dissemination campaign.
The project aims to contribute to strengthening the capacity building of young victims (part of minorities) and the protection of youngsters belonging to minorities by supporting them in capacity building and structuring new mechanisms in public consultations in partner’s country (replicable all over Europe) on the issue of nondiscrimination and fighting every form of hate speech against ethnic minorities, Roma and migrants.
AHEAD’s aim is to tackle hate speech (also online) and to combat discriminations that target minorities in 5 areas of civil rights: education, labor, housing, health, goods and services, through specific training offered to 200 participants and through an new approach that combines quantitative research, public meetings with stakeholders, and awareness raising campaign. After providing expertise, building competences, advocating and raising awareness among youth people, partners will support the mobilization of young victims and will focus on Capacity building actions for youth, in order to involve Youngsters in decision making and into new structured automatic mechanisms to empower their active participation on hate speech and antidiscrimination.