The Spring Program Visits Calabria
One of the highlights of the program was the 5-day trip to the Calabria region in Italy’s south. The focus this time was on cultural diversity and inclusion, dear to our curriculum (in fact we dedicate an entire academic cluster to human rights).
We were welcomed by the Italian Coast Guard, Red Cross volunteers, and Mayor Vittorio Zito at the Calabrian port of Roccella Ionica, one of the first landing points where first aid is provided to immigrants seeking refuge in Italy. We also had the incredible honor to meet former Mayor of Riace, Mimmo Lucano, who became world famous for spearheading the compassionate welcome of refugees in his small town, giving them back their full dignity as human beings through hospitality and job opportunities. (In 2016 Fortune magazine included him among the 50 most influential world leaders.) Speaking with Lucano about his projects was an eye opener, as was the emotional dialogue that took place between him and the Mayor of Camini, Giuseppe Alfarano. Their common experience, together with Rosario Zurzolo of Eurocoop Servizi ‘JUNGIMUNDU’, has led to a near perfect integration between Syrian and Afghan refugees and the local population.
As we looked out to sea we learned about the essential first aid provided to migrants from war torn lands, hearing firsthand from volunteers and military personnel, not only about their own work but especially about the dangerous overseas voyage faced by migrants in their struggle to reach Italian shores.
Though we are inundated with news about global strife (often so much we become desensitized), standing with the experts and hearing directly their stories of the harsh realities from which many migrants are fleeing will surely leave a lasting impact on our students and on us all.
All told, in Calabria the students experienced a landscape that is not just “Italian” but “Mediterranean” and truly diverse in a natural and unassuming manner.
