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Port of Call |
LAST UPDATE July 12, 2005
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| site design imagesparkle.com |
| March 23, 2005 |
Las Palmas – An Island Struggling for a Multicultural Co-existence |
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| “Welcome to the Patio of Cultures” |
The Canary Islands, a group of islands off the northwest coast of Africa, are a popular resort destination for many Europeans. These scenic, Spanish-owned islands are often called the “Land of Eternal Spring”, and when walking through the immaculately-kept streets of Las Palmas, the major city on the Canaries’ largest island, it is easy to assume that one is indeed in paradise. What the majority of tourists do not see, however, are the societal challenges that many residents of the island face. The islands’ close proximity to Africa, (the closest island is only 108 kilometers from the African coast), has led to an influx of immigrants from a multitude of countries converging upon the island, and many find themselves in situations in which they are unable to care for themselves, or their families. |
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| Meeting with members of Las Palmas’ international community helped participants to further their understanding of the situation of migrant workers. |
Cáritas Diocesana, an NGO in the Canary Islands is working to address the problems people who have been left behind by society, including immigrants, are facing. During Peace Boat’s visit to Las Palmas, a group of participants spent the day with the Cáritas organization, learning about their activities and sharing time with members of the Canaries’ international community.
After receiving a warm welcome from David Martin, Cáritas’ Human Resources Representative, participants were treated to a tour of the Las Palmas facility and were able to see first-hand the work that the organization is undertaking. Situated on a picturesque street in central Las Palmas, the Cáritas facility is home to several projects that aim to improve the quality of life of residents who would otherwise not have the resources to better their situation. Through ceaseless work in a variety of areas, Cáritas plays a vital role in helping residents, including immigrants, obtain the practical skills and support that they need to succeed in society. Funded by private donations, as well as governmental support, the center’s staff of forty professionals and eight volunteers provides:
- Mental health services
- Vocational training
- Employment assistance
- Dormitory, laundry, and bathing facilities
- Free meals for the homeless
- Services for victims of domestic violence
- Alcohol/Drug rehabilitation
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| Peace Boat participants and members of El Patio de las Culturas enjoy performing Japanese dance together. |
Because of the large number of immigrants residing in the Canary Islands, Cáritas has a special section, called “Program with Migrants”. In addition to providing support in practical and employment-related areas, Cáritas also sponsors El Patio de las Culturas (Patio of Cultures), a center where migrant workers and their families can come together and share the cultures of their mother countries. “In Spanish culture, the patio is traditionally the part of the house where family members come together and spend time with each other, eating and chatting,” one of Cáritas’ representatives explained. “We want El Patio de las Culturas to be a place where all cultures can come to meet, learn from each other, and carry on their traditions.” |
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| Participants in the exchange discuss the plight of immigrants in Japan and the Canary Islands. |
Peace Boat participants had the opportunity to visit El Patio de las Culturas, where they were welcomed by members of Las Palmas’ international community. At the facility, immigrants from Africa and Latin America shared their experiences, helping participants to get a more detailed and personal understanding of the reasons migrants choose to leave their countries. As Japan is a country that has a relatively low percentage of migrant workers, many participants were unaware of immigration issues and the problems migrant workers must deal with on a regular basis.
“The world is divided into two big parts: rich and poor, North and South,” one woman who emigrated from Algeria told participants. “We, people from the South, we have to leave our countries for the North for economic or political reasons. Unfortunately, migration issues are a consequence of the history of humanity and we can see that recently, (migration) has increased … (In the Canaries,) you have migrants who are looking for jobs, but you also have refugees who are running from war, persecution, or oppression. There are many reasons. ”
After a delicious lunch and a period of cultural exchange including art, song, and dance, Japanese participants and members of El Patio de las Culturas enjoyed a stroll together through the streets of historic Las Palmas before they bade each other farewell. Wishing Peace Boat a safe and pleasant voyage, representatives from Cáritas expressed their hopes that participants had learned something valuable from the day’s activities and asked them to do whatever they could to help immigrants in their hometowns. |
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For more information, please see – Caritas website (Spanish Only) –
http://www.caritas-canarias.org |
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