Migrant in Romania - English version 2015

Ministerul Afacerilor Interne

Inspectoratul General pentru Imigrări

Direcţia Schengen

UNIUNEA EUROPEANĂ

Proiect finanţat de Uniunea Europeană

Migrant in Romania

www. migrant.ro

Multiculturalism is dead, long-live interculturalism!

Romania: migration, cultural diversity and democracy The network of intercultural mediators

page 3 page 6 Migrant in Romania

1

page 8

EDITORIAL This publication is a special issue of Migrant in Romania magazine, edited by Intercultural Institute of Timisoara (coordinator)

in partnership with the League for the Defence of Human Rights – Cluj, the Civic Resource Centre – Constanta and the Association for Rights’ Protection and Social Integration – Bucharest Bd. 16 Decembrie 1989, nr. 8, 300173 Timisoara Tel/Fax +40 256 498 457 E-mail: iit@intercultural.ro Site: www.intercultural.ro

Multiculturalism is dead, long-live interculturalism!

This publication reflects a part of the commitment of the Intercultural Institute of Timisoara and of its partners in advocating for an intercultural society in Romania and for an interculturalist approach in public policies and at the level of the civil society.

Over the past years political leaders across Europe acknowledged that, particularly in addressing the issues of diversity and coexistence between different cultural groups generated by migration, multiculturalism is not an effective policy.But what is multiculturalism? And if it is not effective, what are the alternatives?

The publication is realised in the framework of the project “Migrant in Intercultural Romania”. Contract no. ref.: IF/10.01-04.01, financed by the European Union through General Programme “Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows”, administered in Romania by the General Inspectorate for Immigration.

Indeed, when it comes to addressing issues related to cultural diversity, the terms “multicultural” and “intercultural”, as well as their derivatives, are often mentioned. Both can be used in a descriptive or in a normative way.

2

Migrant in Romania

The responsibility for the content of the articles lies solely with the authors.

They own the copyright for the published articles.

Proposals for contributions to the magazine can be sent to the editorial board.

Details on cover 3 and at www.migrant.ro

Monoculturalism (assimilation, cultural homogenisation)

Exclusionism (marginalization, divided society, exclusion)

Communication/exchanges

This publication is available online at www.migrant.ro Printed copies can be ordered at the Intercultural Institute of Timisoara, www.intercultural.ro

Oana Bajka, Cosmin Barzan, Daniela Cervinschi, Ana Ludusan, Romina Matei, Oana Neştian Sandu, Georgiana Rentea, Călin Rus. Design: Codruţ Radu Contact: redactie@migrant.ro

If we take a normative perspective, referring to a vision about society, to what we believe society should be like, the terms “multiculturalism” and “interculturalism” are more and more commonly used.

The model below proposes a way to distinguish between these concepts. It is a bi-dimensional model built around two key issues confronting groups living in culturally diverse societies: maintenance and development of specific cultural identities of each group and exchanges, interactions and cooperation between the groups within the wider society.

We can acknowledge that our societies are culturally diverse, that different cultural groups

Editorial board:

exist, that sometimes there are tendencies of increasing cultural diversity, and we describe society as “multicultural”. We can also use the term “intercultural” in a descriptive way, emphasising that, in nowadays societies, interactions between members of different cultural groups are frequent and even unavoidable, that contact with people having a different cultural background is part of our daily lives.

Interculturalism (integration, cohesion, intercultural dialogue) Specific cultural identities

Multiculturalism (separation, parallel societies)

According to the interculturalist approach, it is possible and desirable that public policies support members of various groups in affirming publicly and in developing their cultural identities, while also providing a framework for members of different groups to interact, negotiate and cooperate in finding the best solutions to common interest issues, based on democratic principles.

This allows for “the existence and equitable interaction of diverse cultures and the possibility of generating shared cultural expressions through dialogue and mutual respect” (as requested by the UNESCO’s Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, but, at the same time, ensures the conditions, for people who wish so, to participate in the cultural life of their specific communities. We could call such a situation an “intercultural society”. Thus, in our view, the right alternative to multiculturalism is interculturalism, not exclusionism or assimilationism.

The work done in the framework of the project Migrant in Intercultural Romania is grounded on this choice and aims at contributing in making Romania an intercultural society. This is done by addressing jointly the need to build the capacity of migrants in Romania to participate in local and national democratic processes, as well as the need to open-up public institutions, public policies and local civil society to consultation and cooperation with representatives of various cultural groups that we are fortunate to have in our country.

Migrant in Romania

3

PROJECT

Migrant in Intercultural Romania – The Project The project Migrant in Intercultural Romania (IF/11.01-04.01) was cofunded by the European Union through the European Integration Fund, General Programme “Solidarity and the Management of Migratori Flows”, Annual programmes 20112013, administered in Romania by the General Inspectorate for Immigration.

The project was implemented by the Intercultural Institute of Timisoara, in partnership with the Human Rights Defense League in Cluj, the Center for Civic Resources Constanta and ADIS Association Bucharest.

The aim of this project was to create an adequate intercultural environment in order to facilitate the integration of migrants in Romania and to strengthen the social cohesion, by maintaining certain mechanisms for consulting the communities of migrants created in the previous projects.

During the previous projects implemented with the aim of facilitating the integration of migrants in Romania and of developing a consultation mechanism, several needs have been identified, both from migrants and the corresponding official institutions:  The necessity to establish positive relations and to diminish the social distance between the institutions and migrants;  The necessity of an organised environment, and in the same time an environment culturally adapted to the expression of migrants’ problems and needs in relation with the authorities and also for the communication of authorities in relation with the migrants;  The necessity for migrants to receive diverse information and from many sources regarding the opportunities of integration;  The necessity to have a real and significant dialogue between migrants and local population, and the local authorities respectively;  The existence of opportunities to promote the cultural characteristics of migrants’ communities and to recognize their existence in society;  The existence of multipliers

4

Migrant in Romania

within the migrants’ communities, resource-persons who can successfully represent “the voice” of the migrants in dialogue with the authorities and the civil society;  The development of the capacity of third country nationals’ NGOs to take part in social, cultural and community life;  Raising awareness among massmedia regarding the phenomenon of migration and training of journalists to reflect relevant and non-stereotype information.

Starting from these needs, the project proposed a trilateral consultation mechanism, between the public authorities, the migrant communities and the civil society.

This consultation mechanism worked differently and had various results in each of the five cities involved in the project, with specific interactions between players in each case. A fourth dimension of communication was represented by the network of intercultural mediators, linking the other three.

The main activities of the project were:  The website Migrant in Romania (www.migrant.ro), used as a platform for communication, information and consultation, by posting all activities carried out within the project regularly, as well as news and events of interest for and about migrants

in Romania, as well as important information on European level.  Migrant in Romania quarterly magazine, a tool of information for migrants, but also for the general public about migration issues and migrant integration. The magazine is available in printed format and also online on www.migrant.ro. Four supplementary issues per year, titled “Bessarabian Accent”, were also made available in printed and online versions, focusing on the integration of migrants from Republic of Moldova. Each year there was also an issue in a foreign language.  A network of intercultural mediators made of 20 persons was set up, as a liaison agent between the local migrants’ communities, the public authorities and the civil

society. The intercultural mediators represent in the same time “the voice” of their communities in relevant situations and they are also responsible for the “translation” of information and legislation for the members of the communities. The mediators received professional training every year, in order to be as prepared as possible for their activity.  Local and national seminars aiming to gather representatives of migrants, media, local and national authorities, NGOs and other stakeholders in order to debate and identify better solutions to integration: 1 national seminar and 15 local seminars (in Bucharest, Timisoara, Iasi, Constanta and Cluj-Napoca) per year. The problems discussed

during the seminars and the suggested solutions have served as a basis for the elaboration of a set of public policies each year, which have been submitted to the appropriate authorities.  During the national seminar, thematic working groups have made suggestions for legislation amendments and changes in administrative procedures in order to improve the integration of migrants. The groups were categorized as follows: administrative-legal working group, education-culture-youth working group, social-health-labor working group.  Trainings for journalists were organized yearly in order to develop their intercultural sensitivity and to ensure for a better reflection of migrant and migration in the media.

The journalists were put in contact with the intercultural mediators and were encouraged to publish materials regarding the migrants in Romania, applying the principles learned during the course.

The target group of the project was composed of participants in national and local seminars, as well as the wider third country nationals’ communities accessing the online platform and printed magazine, together with public authorities in the field of migration and integration and other stakeholders.

The project has achieved its goal and objectives, building and consolidating a space for communication between relevant actors for migrants’ integration in the Romanian society. One of the most visible good unintended outcomes is that the European Commission considers the project to be a good practice example in the field of integration of non-EU migrants (See “Timișoara case study: A new approach to integrating non-EU migrants”).

Communication is a key element in a diverse society, as much as a purpose in itself, as well as a tool for cooperation and development.

Communication keeps relationships healthy. Consultation mechanisms in society between public authorities and citizens should be a permanent habit, may they be citizens of the respective country or not.

Migrant in Romania

5

ANALYSIS This article describes some key issues facing present-day Romanian society and can be seen both as an introduction for a migrant coming to live in Romania from a faraway country, and as a support for reflection for those already living in Romania, natives or migrants. Two types of issues will be analysed, issues referring to cultural diversity and issues related to democracy.

Romania: migration, cultural diversity and democracy also a destination country for non-EU migrants, the legal and administrative system, as well as the procedures for obtaining Romanian citizenship, have been gradually improved and made more effective and more transparent.

Measures to assist refugees and to support the integration of migrants in the Romanian society have been implemented based on the cooperation between the national authorities in charge of migration issues, other institutions in the fields of education or employment, international organisations and local NGOs.

Diversified diversity Regarding cultural diversity, the landscape has evolved significantly over the past 25 years. After the nationalistic assimilationist policies of the last decade of the communist regime, the 1990s can be remembered with at least three key features: (1) the revival of the presence of national minorities in the public sphere, in policies and politics, (2) the disappearance of two important minorities – the Jews and the Germans – after waves of emigration based on international agreement with their respective kin-States, and (3) the acknowledgment that Romania has a large minority previously ignored in the public discourse: the Roma.

The first half of the 1990s was also marked by violent clashes: Romanians against Hungarians, on one side, and Romanians and Hungarians against Roma, on the other side. Important progress in the relations between the Hungarian minority and the majority was made in the following years, starting in 1996, but in the case of the Roma, only in 2001 did the authorities acknowledge the need to develop and implement policies to compensate not only the centuries of inequality and exclusion, but also the harm done during the first years of transition to a market economy.Various actions and policy measures focused on ensuring the rights of persons belonging to national minorities and on the inclusion of Roma were taken by the Romanian authorities under the pressure of the Council of Europe and the European Union.

After 2002, the new legislation

6

Migrant in Romania

Democracy in progress

against discrimination and the establishment of the National Council for Combating Discrimination contributed to further improvements in intercultural perceptions and relations. However, research still shows a prevalence of strong negative attitudes towards Roma. A lot needs still to be done to ensure visible and sustainable improvement of the situation of many Roma communities affected by extreme poverty and social exclusion.

Starting with 2002 Romanians could travel in the EU without a visa and this generated a huge wave of emigration, particularly towards Italy, Spain and other countries of Southern Europe.

Over two million Romanian seized the opportunity of working abroad and the remittances represented an important support for the economic growth from 2002 to 2008. As countries where most Romanians emigrated are the ones most affected by the economic crisis, this flow of money was significantly reduced

during the past few years and many emigrants chose to return to Romania.

This aspect, together with the contacts maintained with Romanians still living abroad, contributed to introducing new forms of cultural diversity and to mixed cultural practices. During the same period, many citizens of other EU countries moved to Romania and immigration from non-EU countries also increased significantly.

There are currently around 50,000 EU citizens living in Romania and a few other thousands are spending annually a significant part of their time in Romania, despite maintaining their official residence in another EU country. The largest group in this category are the Italians, followed by the German and the French. At the same time, almost 60,000 citizens from non-EU countries have legal residence in Romania, to work, to do business, to study, or to join their relatives. The largest numbers are from the Republic

of Moldova, Turkey, China, and the various countries in Middle East.

Thus, young people from the Republic of Moldova find it generally easy to integrate due to the shared language, the Turkish and Chinese business people and traders responded to a need of the growing Romanian market, while many Arab and Iranian doctors filled a gap generated by the emigration of many health professionals. The opening of Romanian universities to foreign students also attracted significant numbers of young people from both EU and non-EU countries, interested especially to obtain a degree in medicine. The number of foreign citizens who obtained the status of refugee is still small but a significant increase is expected with the implementation of the recent EU agreement on managing migration across the Mediterranean. As Romania moved over the past decade from being only a country of transit towards being

The changes which took place after the revolution of December 1989 were so radical that the whole legal and institutional framework had to be rebuilt. Despite the hesitations of the first years, institutions were established and started to work in the new democratic framework and their compliance with the European standards was confirmed with the admission of Romania as member of the Council of Europe in 1993.

However, changing mindsets and building a culture of democracy is another issue and this process is still ongoing. A change of self-perception, of perception of own role and of the relationships with others had to take place both on the side of those working in public institutions, including politicians, judges or civil servants, and on the side of the citizens.

A rigid, slow and poorly managed bureaucracy, focused more on the institutions than on the needs of their beneficiaries made it hard for citizensto access their rights and for businesses to develop, which resulted in slowing down the progress. On the other side, citizens are also often characterised by apathy, by a lack of

trust that their voice matters and that they can make a change, and by a low level of political culture, making them easy to manipulate. Long-time denied, corruption affected deeply all levels of decision-makers across the political spectrum. It is only recently that this aspect was publicly revealed, making Romania an outstanding example, with politicians convicted and imprisoned, from the local level to the level of ministers, heads of party or former prime minister.

Towards inclusive participatory democracy Important changes were brought by several laws adopted over ten years ago, including the law requiring all public institutions to make information of public interest available to citizens and the law on the transparency of the decision-making process, requiring the submission of all draft legislation to public debate prior to its discussion in the decision-making bodies. Such laws change the responsibilities of public institutions towards citizens and provide opportunities for participation.

However, the level and effectiveness of citizens participation remains very limited and there is little concern, both on the part of public institutions, and on the part of civil society to ensure the involvement of members of minority groups and migrants.

From this perspective, the local processes of consultation, debate and cooperation generated in the five largest Romanian cities by the activities of the project Migrant in Intercultural Romania, with the active involvement of intercultural mediators with migrant background, represent a contribution, not only to the integration of migrants in Romania, but also to the promotion of a functional and inclusive participatory democracy.

Migrant in Romania

7

MEDIATORS

The network of intercultural mediators A network made up of over 20 intercultural mediators, with migrant background, is active in five Romanian cities (Timisoara, Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Iasi and Constanta). The network was created as a result of consultations with migrant organisations and communities in the framework of projects focused on migrant

integration implemented by the Intercultural Institute Timisoara and its collaborators starting with 2009.

The intercultural mediators activate as a link between their communities, the public institutions and the local population. Thus, they bring “the voice” of migrant communities in local public life and “the

Ameen Ahmed I am a social intercultural mediator for the Arab community, the Muslim community and other communities of foreigners in Bucharest. I have been living in the capital of Romania since 2005, I was born in Damascus, Syria and I am Palestinian.

I have professional training in the field of communication and public relations. I speak Romanian and English fluently, whereas Arabic is my mother tongue.

Nidia Galicia I come from Mexico and I study International Relations and Diplomacy at the Ovidius University in Constanta. I became an intercultural mediator because I thought it was the best chance of staying in touch with migrants, especially with those coming from Latin America.

8

Migrant in Romania

translation” of the relevant information from Romanian society for community members. They are certified as social mediators with intercultural expertise, following their attendance of a series of training courses.

Here are the active mediators in the final stage of the project, in the period between November 2014 and June 2015.

Rima Tayara I graduated from the Civil Construction Faculty in Timisoara but I work as a financial consultant. When I was 18 I left my country, Syria, in order to study in Romania and I know how many obstacles one has to face in a foreign country by oneself, trying to integrate in a society that speaks a foreign language.

Mohamed Daoud I was born in Alexandria, Egypt, from which I also draw the name of Alex, which I often use. I came to Romania when I was 16, learnt Romanian and studied at the “Gr. T. Popa” Medicine and Pharmacy University in Iasi, the locality where I established my residence.

I am a gynaecologist, doctor in medical sciences and I founded the Oriental Cultural Centre Association in 2006.

Cristina Răilean I am from the Republic of Moldova and I study in Cluj-Napoca. I have been doing volunteer work for 7 years and I am a member of the Bessarabian Initiative Group in Cluj (GIB - Cluj), whose president I used to be.

I like working with the other mediators so that our voice may be heard through common projects.

Diana Costaș I graduated from the National School of Political and Administrative Studies, the Faculty of Political Sciences in Bucharest. I am from the Republic of Moldova and I became an intercultural mediator because I wanted to help migrants like myself in our relationship with the public authorities.

I speak Russian, English and French.

Amjad Alaoui Soulimani My origin country is Morocco. I came to Romania for the first time in 1992 in order to study here and I settled here for good in 2007. I am a pharmacist by profession.

I am always asked to help people, which I do gladly. I became an intercultural mediator to be guided in the right direction in everything I do and to gain experience, to improve myself and become more efficient.

Mazen Rifai I am a journalist, founding member of the RomanianArab Culture and Press Club and member in the board of the SyrianRomanian Cultural Club in Bucharest. I created a special section on the Arabic News Agency website (www.ana-news. ro) that contains presentday information in Arabic for refugees and immigrants, as well as other type of information which is necessary for Arabic language speakers.

Natalia Ermicioi I come from the Republic of Moldova and during the last 4 years of my life I have been contributing to the development of ClujNapoca‘s society. Currently I am the International Cooperation Coordinator of Cluj-Napoca - the European Youth Capital 2015 and my responsibility is to put Cluj-Napoca on the mental map of people around the world.

I became intercultural mediator because I wanted to contribute to the wealth of migrants and make them feel at home, integrated and non-discriminated.

Alexander Jacho I have been living in ClujNapoca since 2009 and am married with a Romanian woman. I came here from Ecuador and I try to discover opportunities for the foreigners living in this country. And if I find them I want to share them with others as quickly as possible, in order to support the integration of the LatinAmerican community in the Romanian civil society.

Migrant in Romania

9

MEDIATORS Chrisitian Chigozie Udearo I came from Nigeria seven years ago and I settled in Timisoara. I have seen immigrants from different countries, people with different traditions, with different cultures, speaking different languages, having different religions and different colours, facing certain problems connected to their coming into a foreign country. I wanted to get involved in helping them and thus I became an intercultural mediator.

Hermann Twilingiyimana I have been living in Romania for over 10 years.

Ever since I got here I have helped other migrants. In time I met other people who were working in the field of migrant integration, who noted how much I was enjoying working to facilitate migrant integration.

Sukaina Jasim Hashim – (Abeer) I am a teacher of Arabic and the president of the “Bud’s Flowers” association in Bucharest, whose aim is to promote and defend human rights, as well as to foster intercultural exchanges. I am from Iraq; I speak Arabic, English and Romanian. I chose to become a social intercultural mediator in order to facilitate the integration of foreigners in Romania and their access to public and private services.

10 Migrant in Romania

Ahmed Rashidi Hassan I am from Egypt and I live in Timisoara. I am a lecturer of Arabic Language and Culture at the University of the West in Timisoara and counsellor within the Romanian-Arab Cultural Centre. I teach Arabic language and literature, as well as religion, at the Arab school; I have carried out several activities to guide the refugees from the Arab countries.

Diane Inamahoro I am from Burundi. I have a master degree in international development, I am interested in the field of migration and I like working with people of different cultures; that is why I became an intercultural mediator – to work with migrants and help them with whatever I can.

Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah I am from Pakistan and I live in Cluj-Napoca.

My mission as a social intercultural mediator, as I see it, is to create communication bridges between migrants and the Romanian society, in order to create a better place for all.

Hanna Mohammad Babar I was born in India, I live in Timisoara and I am a cardiologist by profession.

I chose to become an intercultural mediator because I wanted to help the community I belong to and to share with others the experience gained. I speak several languages: Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Kashmiri, Romanian and English.

Yans Aimn I am a Palestinian from Syria – Damascus and I live in Cluj-Napoca. I’ve had the pleasure to help many of my compatriots to integrate in the Romanian society. I have had accomplishments by I have also known failure and I thus corrected my perspective on life.

Nyakuge Precious Atanze I’m Nigerian and I came to Romania in 2009 to study medicine. Now I’m a general physician. I became an intercultural mediator because I saw the need for foreigners to access information. I wanted to help Africans integrate and become part of the Romanian society.

Ahmed Jaber I was born in Erbed, Jordan.

The Arab community, which I represent, frequently faces situations which need mediation in Romania.

That is why I decided to combine my own original Arabic culture with the Romanian one, acquired in the 25 years I have spent in Romania.

Carolina Stamboliu I came to Romania from the Republic of Moldova.

I became an intercultural mediator because I had always wanted a community of Bessarabian people that should easily integrate in the Romanian society, which I feel I have achieved through this project.

Marko Pavloski My origin country is Macedonia, from where I came in 2008 to study medicine at the Faculty of General Medicine within the “Ovidius” University in Constanta.

I speak Macedonian, Romanian, English, Bulgarian and Serbian.

Throughout the project, the team of intercultural mediators has also included David Erisola Popoola, Fouad Ounouna, Iylia Qayyum Dzulkifly, Adela Jaber, Doina Goro, Ștefan Miron,

Monir Mattar I am a social intercultural mediator for the Arab community in Timisoara and active collaborator of the Intercultural Institute Timisoara. I am an urologist and business man, the president of the Banat Arab-Romanian Friendship Association, representative of the Romanian-Arab Culture and Press Club in Banat and founding member of the Multicultural Centre in Timisoara. I am also the owner of the first intercultural café in Timisoara.

Shen Xiaoming I have been living in Romania for over 20 years.

Here I completely changed my lifestyle. I learnt the Romanian traditions and customs and in daily life I usually deal with the needs of my co-nationals.

My motto is: in order to feel happy and fulfilled, first of all you must give in order to receive.

Tarek Mohamed Fathy, Iasmina Mattar, Igor Drangoi, Moukhliss Samir, Bizou Jeanne Phanzu, Yusuf Çapan, Manoj Budhauliya, Latika Budhauliya, Shalash Al Motaz, Anatoli Codreanu.

More information on the network of mediators and contact information can be found on www.migrant.ro Migrant in Romania

11

INTERVIEW Each issue of the Migrant in Romania magazine includes a variety of articles related to migration and integration. Among the articles there are always interviews with migrants in Romania who share their stories of successful integration in the Romanian society.

For this special issue in English the editorial board decided to have two interviews from previous issues translated, gender balanced. The following two interviews were selected by the public through an online call for selection, announced on www.migrant.ro and carried out on a famous social network.

Dr. Basraoui Fatima-Zahra – an ambitious woman!

12 Migrant in Romania

For starters, could you please introduce yourself?

My name is Basraoui FatimaZahra, I am from Morocco and I am a resident ophthalmologist. I’ve always considered myself to be an unofficial ambassador for my country and I want to represent it with the best image.

What were the main difficulties, but also the aspects that facilitated your integration?

Honestly, integration was not so difficult for me, thank God; I met some wonderful people who helped me and with whom I still keep in touch because they are very dear to me.

Was it difficult to learn Romanian?

The Romanian language is a Latin language and, as we, the Moroccans are French speakers, it wasn’t difficult and, of course, if you really want it, you can do it.

How was University education in Romania?

I did the first preparatory year in Romanian, which facilitated my integration especially in the faculty and, after finishing general medicine studies in Iasi, I came to Constant to start the residency and I chose ophthalmology. I’m sure I made

the best choice because it is a very interesting and beautiful specialty and profession and, as St. Mathew said, “The eye is the light of the body”.

Tell us about your project, specialties and the secret of your success Courage and will are not enough, the faith in everything you do is very important, and I have faith, thank God. It got me where I am and I still have many objectives to achieve.

Why did you choose to come to Romania and especially to Constanta?

My father was the one who guided me towards Romania, choosing the best for his 18-year old daughter. I spent the faculty years in Iasi, an important university and cultural centre, a historical city of Romania, and then I decided to see another part of the beautiful Romania, Constanta, at the seaside, a complex city, suited to all tastes.

Could you describe to us several customs and traditions of your origin country, Morocco? Are there similarities between Morocco and Romania?

I am convinced that Morocco is one of the most culturally rich and beautiful countries in the Arab and

Interview taken by

Ounouna Fouad

Intercultural mediator for the Arab and Francophone community in Constanta

Muslim world, with more than ten centuries of history, a cultural and natural diversity which is breathtaking, a cuisine which is famous all over the world, with welcoming and generous people. There are many similarities between Morocco and Romania, but the most important one for me was the Romanian hospitality.

What are your future projects?

For now I am focused on my medical training, but I am also active in the associative life on several levels: political, social and cultural. And in the future we may help develop the relationship and solidarity between Morocco and Romania so that we can favour the strengthening of the RomanianMoroccan relations more, why not?

A word of conclusion?

I’ve never felt a foreigner in Romania. I want to sincerely thank the whole Romanian people for the hospitality and warmth they have given me and the authorities for their understanding and cooperation. Romania will always have a special place in my heart.

Thank you for your time and your answers and I wish you success in your future projects.

Migrant in Romania

13

INTERVIEW Why did you choose to come to Romania to teach Arabic?

I visited Romania for the first time in October 2005. I didn’t stay long then because I came as a delegate on behalf of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as an expert in teaching the Arabic language for foreigners. As the Egyptian Embassy in Bucharest also covers the Republic of Moldova, I was assigned to teach there, in Chisinau. I worked at the State University in Chisinau, the Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures. I lived there for four years, but all this time I was in permanent contact with the Egyptian Embassy in Bucharest and I visited several cities of Romania. I visited Iasi, Piatra Neamt, Cheile Bicazului, Brasov, Oradea, Baile Herculane, all very beautiful cities.

Ahmed Rashidi

one of the hardest to learn languages in the world. This perception is wrong, the Russian language for example is very hard to learn. The grammar of the Russian or German language is very difficult. Not to mention the Romanian language… It took me a long time to learn Romanian. The Arabic language is very easy but it depends on the way it is delivered to students. I have been teaching Arabic for a long time, it’s my specialty, and at the University I studied both the language and the Arabic culture. I have experience because I have worked with many students from the former Soviet Union and additionally with students from Albania, Bosnia, South Korea, Germany, Italy and Canada.

Where did you go after those four years were over?

It wasn’t as if I had finished those four years and then I came back, because all that time I was in permanent contact with Bucharest and Romania. I made several contacts here and because of that I came to Romania from time to time, to visit the Faculty of Letters within the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Iasi and the one within the Bucharest University. When I arrived in Chisinau I started to learn Romanian because I thought it would help me in Romania. I discovered that the Republic of Moldova was a bilingual country, people speaking both Romanian and Russian. I started learning both languages and then I decided to specialise in the Romanian language.

After the Republic of Moldova you decided to come to Romania... Why did you choose Timisoara?

To be honest, at the beginning, I wanted to go to Iasi because it was the closest city to the Republic of Moldova and it had a very big university centre. But the conjuncture was that I had many friends in Timisoara and they invited me here. I came to visit Timisoara and I discovered a very beautiful city, multicultural and with a university centre. Here I met the imam of the mosque and Ms. Luiza Mohammed, the director of the Romanian – Arab Cultural Centre, and so I decided to stay here. I have work collaboration with the Romanian – Arab Cultural Centre and another partnership

14 Migrant in Romania

the only native lecturer of Arabic language in Romania

How many languages do you know?

with the Faculty of Foreign Languages within the West University of Timisoara where I teach Arabic language for beginners. For the first time in Timisoara I opened an Arabic department and I had the honour to become the first lecturer, and the only one, that teaches Arabic at the West University. The opening of this department was a very nice event, unforgettable, with the participation of Her Excellency Ms. Ambassador of Egypt to Romania, Sanaa Esmail Atallah Esmail.

The West University made a huge progress with the opening of this department and over 100 students participated in the first course. Many people were curious and wanted to learn Arabic. In Romania there is no other Arabic teacher that is an Arab native. There are many very good teachers in Bucharest, Iasi and Cluj but no one is native.

The first course gathered more than 100 students. How many finished the course?

The course was finished by approximately 40 students because it was an optional course and it took place in the afternoon, around 5 p.m. The smaller number was also due to the fact that the course overlapped with other compulsory courses and not all the students were able to participate full time.

The work at the University is not the only one that I have, I also teach private Arabic courses at the RomanianArabic Cultural Centre and courses for children at the Syrian – Arabic School in Timisoara where they study in Arabic.

How was the attitude of the Romanian students that hadn’t had any connexion with the Arabic language and culture before?

Unfortunately the Arabic language has a bad reputation because it is considered

I speak English very well, a little French, I understand Italian but I am not brave enough to speak it. In Romania I speak Romanian and the courses that I teach are in Romanian-Arabic. When I worked in Egypt in this field I had many foreign students.

I enjoy teaching very much and today’s course is always different from tomorrow’s course, I don’t copy them. I have a vast experience and I also learned a bit about the cultures and languages of my students.

I make my courses very easy to follow and the students told me that they never thought that Arabic was so easy to learn.

How did you adapt in Romania?

The people in Romania are very welcoming. I visited Italy before, but it seems to me that in Romania people are more welcoming and we have more common subjects. I don’t feel like being in a foreign country, generally Eastern Europe is more welcoming. I only felt that I was in a foreign country when I saw the red broth. I asked myself: what kind of food is this? It’s a

traditional food from Moldova region. It was very interesting for me because I thought it was cooked with blood. Because I don’t eat pork this broth frustrates me. I don’t eat pork so I don’t know if this red is because of blood.

You are in permanent contact with the Arab community in Timisoara. It is a big community, how did they receive you?

Yes, it is a big community. The majority came here for studies (medicine, pharmacy) and they remained here. They married Romanian women and now they have children that go to the Syrian Arabic School.

It is a united community. First of all the most important connection is the Arabic language. The Arabic language is spoken in 22 countries and the standard Arabic language is understood in all these countries.

This is the language that unites us all and that I teach. We understand each other very easily and we meet for holidays and so on.

Do you manage to maintain your traditions while you are in Timisoara?

Yes, we go to the mosque, we keep the Ramadan. During the Ramadan that just passed all of us used to meet at the mosque and it was very nice, many people used to come. For us the Ramadan is something like black fasting, we don’t drink or eat until the sun comes down. All of us would meet at the mosque during the Ramadan, would pray and then eat together. That’s why it is very nice during this celebration, all of us would go every day at the mosque.

You were away from Romania for a while, what happened?

I had to leave because my residence permit here was over and so was my one year partnership with the West University.

Interview taken by

Daniela Crăciun

Intercultural Institute of Timişoara

I had to return to Egypt exactly when the revolution started and it was an honour for me to participate as a revolutionary. I don’t know how I would have lived with myself if I hadn’t been there during the revolution.

So you are a true believer in the Revolution…

I am very proud of what happened there. I have lots of friends abroad that used to call me to complain that they couldn’t come to Egypt. I am proud and satisfied that I was in Egypt at that time and I was able to be part of this remarkable period.

I was there for 8, almost 9 months.

How do you see the future of Egypt?

Elections will come and it will take a while before everything changes. We are waiting, we are not in a rush. After a Revolution the stability will come eventually, but slowly. After the Romanian revolution hundreds of parties appeared, it’s the same in Egypt. But I am an optimist because people have a voice and it’s heard now. I will return to Egypt even if not for good, at least to visit. My job takes me abroad, but I will always come back.

Migrant in Romania

15

PARTNERS The Migrant in Intercultural Romania project was implemented by four non-governmental organisations which worked as a team in order to ensure the best outcomes of the project nationwide.

These are the partner organisations and their main fields of action www.intercultural.ro The Intercultural Institute from Timisoara (IIT) has been established in 1992 as a non-governmental organisation, focused on promoting the values and principles of the Council of Europe regarding an intercultural approach in education, cultural policy, research and civil society.

The IIT has a wide network of partners from all over the world, including international organisations, institutions, NGOs and professionals from its areas of interest. IIT has a good cooperation with local, regional and national authorities in the fields of education, culture, youth, migration and minorities. IIT is a member of several international networks, including CIVITAS – a civic education network with partners from 80 countries coordinated

by Centre for Civic Education California, Youth Express Network – a European network working on social inclusion and disadvantaged youth, DARE – Democracy and Human Rights Education in Europe, FOND – The Federation of Development NGOs in Romania. IIT is also one of the founding members of the Resource Centre for Ethical and Solidarity-based Initiatives – CRIES and of the Association Timisoara European Capital of Culture 2021, as well as member in several local, regional and national consultative structures, including the Timis County Mixed Working Group for Roma Issues, the Consultative Group of NGOs established by the Timis County Prefect and the Joint Monitoring Committee for the RomaniaSerbia INTERREG IPA Cross-Border

16 Migrant in Romania

Partner organisations

Cooperation Programme (2014-2020).

The Intercultural Institute Timisoara has been actively involved in several projects of the Council of Europe, including:  Democracy, human rights, minorities: cultural and educational approaches (1992-1997);  All different, all equal - European youth campaign against racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance (1994-1997);  Education for democratic citizenship (1998-2002);  Human Rights Education, including the publication of the Romanian version of the COMPASS manual (2002)  Education of Roma children in Europe (2003-2009);  ROMED – Mediation with Roma (2011-2015);  Autobiography of intercultural encounters (2012-2013):  Competences for Democratic Culture (2013-2017).

Some highlights:

In its over twenty years of work, the Intercultural Institute Timisoara implemented numerous projects, at local, regional, national and international level, focused mainly on the following topics:  The promotion of intercultural education and of civic education at all levels of the education system;  Education for democratic citizenship, human rights education and intercultural education in youth work, civil society organisations and adult education;  Promotion of local-level cooperation between majority and minority communities and active involvement of young people belonging to national minorities;  Various issues regarding Roma minority, including combating stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination against Roma, improving education of Roma children, supporting civic participation of Roma and developing the capacity of Roma youth organisations, improving the quality and effectiveness of projects aiming at Roma inclusion, empowering Roma women to improving the access of Roma to the system of validation and certification of competences;

The Intercultural Institute of Timisoara (IIT) has been in the 1990s one of the pioneers of work on Roma education in Romania. IIT developed in its first larger pilot project in 1996-1998, the first national project to address issues related to education for Roma children in Romania, the key concepts and approaches on the employment of Roma school mediators and on training teachers working with Roma children. In 1998-2001 IIT was the first organisation to coordinate a COMENIUS project, on the integration of Roma history and culture in school and out-of-school education, with partners from France, Slovakia and Spain. The results of these projects were taken over and included in public policies. Thus, hundreds of school mediators are now employed in the Romanian education system and large scale training programmes have been developed and implemented mainly with EU funds.

In 2004 and 2008 IIT organised, in cooperation with the Council of Europe and with the Romanian Ministry of Education, European seminars on the training of Roma school mediators and assistants. In 2008 IIT also piloted the European Guide of Roma School Mediator, published by the Council

 Combating the stereotyping and the unfair reflection of Roma, other national minorities and migrants in local and national media;  The use of participatory and inclusive methods for the development of local and regional strategies, particularly in the fields of culture and youth, as well as in the development of civil society projects;  The promotion of European cooperation and exchanges between civil society organisations, public institutions, schools and individuals, increasing EU awareness and active European citizenship;  Cross-border cooperation in South-East Europe;  Integration of migrants in Romania and European exchanges on migration issues.

These projects include activities like research, training, conferences, meetings and seminars, development of resources, policy recommendations and publications.

of Europe. In 2010, IIT led the development of a curriculum for a national training programme for the staff of early childhood education institutions focused on the inclusion of Roma children. The experience of IIT was used by the Council of Europe in the development of the training curriculum of the ROMED programme In 1998, IIT was the first Romanian NGO to establish partnerships with civil society organisations in Serbia and since then implemented several cross-border projects and supported other organisations and institutions to engage in cross-border cooperation with Serbia and Hungary. In the period 1998 – 2002, IIT was member of the Working Group on Education for Democratic Citizenship and Management of Diversity in Education, established by the Council of Europe in the framework of the Graz Process, which later became part of the Stability Pact for South-East Europe. In 2005-2006 IIT was part of the consortium contracted by the European

www.asociatia-adis.ro The Association for Rights’ Protection and Social Integration (ADIS) is a non-profit organization, established in 2009, whose purpose is to defend, promote and support democratic values and human rights,

Commission to deliver training for NGOs from Romania and Bulgaria to prepare them for the context of EU membership.

In 2002, in the framework of Policies for Culture Programme of European Cultural Foundation, IIT has initiated and developed the first cultural strategy of a public authority in Romania, based on a participatory approach. In 2014 IIT coordinated projects which led to the development of the strategies of Timisoara Municipality in the fields of culture and youth.

From 2002 to 2004, IIT coordinated a project which elaborated a methodology for online school partnerships on intercultural education. In 2011-2012, in a project coordinated by the British Council, IIT contributed to the development of a training programme for teachers who coordinate the international activities of their schools.

In 2006, the IIT was the first Romanian NGO to receive support through the EU programme on European

Active Citizenship. Also in 2006, the IIT was the first Romanian NGO that won a project through Action 5.1 of the Youth in Action programme.

In 2003 – 2007 IIT was involved in European trans-national exchanges on the issue of the integration of migrants and in this context IIT organised in 2006 the first national conference on this topic and in 2007 organised with the support of European Commission representation in Romania a conference to promote the Commune Basic Principles on Immigrant Integration Policy in the European Union, adopted by the European Council. Since 2009 IIT implements national level projects in Romania addressing migration. Besides the activities of the project Migrant in Intercultural Romania, described in this publication, IIT developed, in cooperation with West University of Timisoara and with the Ministry of Education, a set of resources for teaching Romanian language to migrant adults and children.

and to improve the quality of life.

ADIS mission is to support the integration of migrants, youngsters and other disadvantaged groups in the socio-economic life.

ADIS members have gathered expertise in migrants’ integration and youth work as a result of active work with these groups, education, research and active involvement in different projects.

ADIS has the following objectives: - To help individuals integrate in the socio-economic and cultural life; - To facilitate the access to rights and fundamental liberties and improve the quality of the individuals‘ social, economical and cultural life by involving other social actors (universities, public services, etc.) in this process; - To create an intercultural environment destined to facilitate social inclusion and eliminate any form of discrimination and racism; - To contribute to the improvement of the legal framework

and institutional development; - To involve young people in programs of social and cultural inclusion of immigrants and youth; - To promote a healthy lifestyle and environment protection.

Among the activities we have carried out so far, especially targeting the various categories of migrants in Romania, the most important are: information, counselling and social and legal assistance to facilitate integration; cultural orientation sessions aiming to improve the migrants‘ knowledge about the Romanian society; Romanian language courses; courses in Romanian history and geography; intercultural education; elaboration of information materials; information of the relevant stakeholders in the field of migration, especially through seminars.

We are happy to have been able to help migrants in Romania through our activities and we are committed to adapting to the real integration needs in society.

Migrant in Romania

17

CONTENTS

PARTNERS

www.ladocluj.ro The League for the Defence of Human Rights (LDHR), Cluj branch, has the mission to protect the fundamental rights of the citizens through all legal means, to promote citizen’s interests and democratic values.

LDHR’s main objectives are: - To inform the citizens about their constitutional rights and liberties; - To provide support for the citizens in obtaining their rights, as well as having their rights respected and recognized; - To develop educational,

http://resursecivice.ro The Civic Resource Centre association was established in 2006 to support, promote and develop civic consciousness

18 Migrant in Romania

preventive and intervention programs for defending, supporting and informing the citizens about their constitutional rights and liberties; - To intercede with the central and local public authorities through petitions for defending citizens’ constitutional rights; - To draw the attention of the President, the Government, the Parliament, the judicial courts, the local public administration, the police, to democratic principles. LDHR can address the authorities to have the created damage mended and the abuses

stopped, and can alert, if necessary, the proper international institutions.

Among the activities we have carried out so far, the most important are: information, legal advice for citizens, counselling and social and legal assistance for the facilitation of integration; cultural orientation sessions aiming to improve the migrants‘ knowledge about the Romanian society; trainings, seminars, conferences regarding integration and human rights, conflict mediation courses, festivals etc. Due to its long experience in organizing events which have had a strong impact upon the population of ClujNapoca (both on the local communities and on migrants), LDHR can offer strong and continuous support to every initiative which may arise and can have a positive contribution for people. Over the last 5 years, through its projects for integrations and through the “Migration and Human Rights” festival, LDHR has been actively concerned with issues of multiculturalism and interculturalism, and strived to make Cluj-Napoca a warm and welcoming place for all its inhabitants.

LDHR is pleased to bring its contribution to every activity which can help people, no matter their race, their cultural and religious beliefs, or their origins.

and initiative in the spirit of proactive democracy at individual, community and regional levels.

Our recent focus is on migration, as more and more people come to work and live in Dobrudja, the region in Romania on the Black Sea coast, where the association has its offices.

Democracy is another main topic of interest, as we provide independent observers for the elections in the region. Since 2008 the Civic Resource Centre has coordinated election monitoring campaigns in Romania and abroad.

Multiculturalism is the main value of the region, as there are 26 ethnic groups among only 700,000 people. Therefore, we also work with multicultural communities.

The Civic Resource Centre has organized, since 2008, the “Dobrudja Ethno- Cultural Festival” to bring together representatives of 15 ethnic minorities in Constanta County, with folk costume and mask exhibition, a dance section, an ethnic

gastronomic exhibition and a photo exhibition displaying photos of specific ethnic activities or places.

We have also run various youthrelated projects, to help young people improve their relationship with local authorities in order to enhance the civic participation in community life.

For instance, we have informed youth in several towns in Constanta County about the role, the structure and the function of the local authorities.

In 2010, we coordinated the Local Agenda 21 re-drafting process for Medgidia, a 50,000-inhabitant community 35 km from Constanta.

In 2010, we established a Migrant Information and Counselling Centre, where people coming from non-EU countries learn to speak Romanian for free, or get advice and help about living and integrating in Romanian society.

Since then, we have assisted over 2,500 non-EU citizens to understand more about Romanian culture and people, about the laws and regulations, about life in Romania in general.

Multiculturalism is dead, long-live interculturalism! . . . . . . . . . 3 Migrant in Intercultural Romania – The Project . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Romania: migration, cultural diversity and democracy . . . . . . 6 The network of intercultural mediators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Dr. Basraoui Fatima-Zahra – an ambitious woman! . . . . . . . . 12 Ahmed Rashidi - the only native lecturer of Arabic language in Romania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Partner organisations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Articles for Migrant in Romania magazine The Intercultural Institute of Timisoara receives proposals of articles for Migrant in Romania magazine.

The articles must address aspects relevant for the integration of third country nationals who live in Romania. The length of the article should be between 3.000 and 10.000 characters. The articles can be written in English, Romanian,

French or Spanish. We accept texts that describe individual cases, communities, organizations, activities, interviews or personal stories, along with other types of texts.

magazine and on www.migrant.ro.

The authors are responsible for the content of the texts. They keep the copyright for the texts, but they give Intercultural Institute of Timisoara permission to publish the texts in Migrant in Romania

The editorial team will inform the authors whose articles are approved for publishing. The authors might also receive invitations to local, national or international activities in the field of migration and integration.

Articles must be submitted in electronic format (.rtf, .txt, .doc, .docx, .odt) at redactie@migrant.ro.

Migrant in Romania

19

 This publication is realised in the framework of the project “Migrant in Intercultural Romania”, financed through General Programme “Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows”, European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals – Annual Programme 2013  Editor: Intercultural Institute of Timisoara  Publication date: June 2015  Contact: Institutul Intercultural Timisoara, str.

16 Decembrie 1989, nr. 8.

Tel/fax.: 0040.256.498.457.

E-mail: redactie@migrant.ro; web: www.migrant.ro  The content of this publication does not necessarily represent the official position of the European Union

20 Migrant in Romania Publication financed by the European Union through the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals in the framework of the project Migrant in Intercultural Romania, coordinated by the Intercultural Institute of Timisoara