Religions for Peace Multi-Religious Humanitarian Fund Phase III-2022- “WeCareforUkraine in Italy”

Religions for Peace Multi-Religious Humanitarian Fund Phase III-2022- “WeCareforUkraine in Italy”

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused Europe’s most extensive and fastest-growing displacement crisis. Several initiatives have been launched in Italy to ensure and safeguard the effective reception and integration of Ukrainian refugees into society. To that end, the Agenzia Scalabriniana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo (ASCS), a grantee of Religions for Peace’s Third Phase of the Multi-Religious Humanitarian Fund (MRHF), initiated the #WeCareforUkraine campaign. ASCS, an agency for Development Cooperation, is the operational and social arm of the Missionaries of Saint Charles – Scalabrinians, a Roman Catholic Religious Order.

“Being supported by a psychologist is really helping me to deal with my emotions and feelings on what is going on in my home country. The fact that the psychologist speaks my language is very helpful. Also, group meetings are very important because I can share my thoughts and emotions with other Ukrainians brothers and sisters.” – Polina, Ukrainian Refugee benefitting from the Psychological support

  “Even if I dream of going back to Ukraine soon, the Italian course is helping me to learn this new language to possibly be more integrated during my stay in this country.” – Nadiya, Ukrainian Refugee attending the Italian course

Casa Scalabrini 634 (CS634), an ASCS project in Rome, is an experimental and innovative reception house for asylum seekers and refugees who, after the first period in the reception centers, can experience a path that leads them to real autonomy. With the #WeCareforUkraine project, ASCS is opening the doors of Casa Scalabrini 634 to provide 10 Ukrainian refugees a safe place to stay. Since March 2022, four families in Milan and four in Rome have been welcomed. Especially at Casa Scalabrini 634, ASCS has been promoting and supporting the coexistence of different religious traditions. The house includes a little chapel for the Christian Catholic migrants, as well as a prayer room for the Muslims. The presence of multiple religious traditions represents a vital element of personal and cultural richness. Casa Scalabrini 634 accommodates not only individuals, but mothers and their children as well as larger families.

With the support of Religions for Peace’s MRHF, the #WeCareforUkraine project is supporting Ukrainians with an orientation desk to provide information and advice on social, legal and job-related issues. Since March 2022, Italian Language Courses have been carried out both for adults and children to help them better integrate into the community. Psychological support is being provided in the Ukrainian language to ensure that the mental, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of the refugees are met.

Keeping in mind how the Multi-Religious Humanitarian Fund has been leveraged to assist Ukrainian refugees who required urgent assistance,  #WeCareforUkraine project will be promoted through the ASCS networks to share the impact and to better promote interventions such as this that advance fundamental human rights.