Report Annuale 2024

In September 2021 I won the STRONG scholarship thanks to which I had the opportunity to pursue a Baccalaureate degree from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, and on October 24, 2024, I concluded the journey by earning my Bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, an accomplishment that teaches that it is never too late to pursue one’s dreams and that opportunities often happen when we don’t even expect them. Indeed, it is curious to think that I found the notice promoting the Strong program scholarship in a whatsapp group, none other than the group of the association of Senegalese in Rome of which I am a founding member. “What a great opportunity”, I thought, still remembering the speed of my reaction to the message and the enthusiasm with which I prepared and sent my application in record time. I can’t explain how, but right from the start I had a positive feeling, because I felt inside that this was it, something was telling me to believe it all the way.

Before that, I had had to set aside my course of study for several years and for several reasons, mainly because of the lack of bureaucratic recognition of my previous studies in my home country. I think it is important to mention this to emphasize how sometimes bureaucracy can be a major hindrance for us foreigners. Fortunately, this case was different; I had the opportunity to participate in the interviews and the pleasure of finding out that I had been selected. 

The opportunity had finally arrived but the difficulties were not lacking. It was a real challenge to reconcile work, studies and family commitments, and in spite of that, with great determination and solidarity among us students, I was able to pursue the endeavor that allowed me to realize a dream that I had thought impossible to achieve. For this I will always be grateful to the Angelicum. Not only does obtaining the degree crown an achievement and represent an added value for my personal growth, but it is also a crucial one for my professional career as a Cultural Linguistic Mediator. This is a profession that represents a vocation for me and that has seen me for several years committed to immigrants by giving them all-round support in the path of integration and social inclusion in the host country. 

In addition to the activity of mediation, my social commitment is glimpsed in the active participation in various associations of communities of foreigners living in Italy and especially associations of Senegalese also as a founding member.

You will agree with me that the adventures of an immigrant woman who has constantly tried to integrate into a country with often few possibilities cannot be summarized in an article. However, I took advantage of these few pages and this opportunity offered to me to open a small window of reflection on the Italian socio-cultural framework regarding the issue of immigration. Placing attention and dialogue on these issues is a fundamental step on a path toward a tomorrow where integration and the enhancement of development cooperation will be the basis of relations between country of origin and host country. What motivates this choice of inviting reflection on immigration? In Italy, for more than 30 years, the socio-cultural framework regarding immigration and inclusion has remained immobile and archaic, and in my opinion the discussion of it can be centred on three themes that I would like to focus on:

1. Migrant reception policy: the most recent case is Italy-Albania, with the export of migrants;

2. Second generations: the right to citizenship for children of migrants born and/or raised in Italy;

3. International Cooperation Policy: law 125/14 (art. 2 and 26).

Our country adopts a stagnant policy based on agreements aimed only at blocking or rejecting landings instead of seeking possible solutions.

On the subject of the recognition of second generations, and the granting of citizenship to those born here, the debate has been ongoing for years without any real change, despite the fact that a reform was presented in October 2015 and passed in the Chamber of Deputies. Since then, it has been stuck in the Senate. In the area of Cooperation, however, a giant step forward has been taken at the regulatory level. With the law 125/14, a leading role has been given to immigrant organizations and associations in activating development cooperation processes (art. 2 and 26). Italy thus positions itself at the forefront of Development policies, promoting the participation of diasporas both on a political-institutional level (with their presence in the National Council for Development Cooperation) and on an operational level, through direct access to funding calls. This allows me to end my reflection on a positive note. 

My wish is that this country that we now consider home can always improve and that stories like mine can be on the agenda.

Aissata Camara