Sister Rosita Milesi, who’s the International Laureate of the 2024 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award. She calls the consideration “a recognition of all of the individuals who helped me, who participated in my journey — particularly the refugees that I had the chance to help and accompany and who’ve at all times taught me classes of hope and religion that fueled my very own journey.”
Marina Calderon/UNHCR
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Marina Calderon/UNHCR
When she was a scholar, Rosita Milesi needed to turn into a math instructor — she was at all times good on the topic, she remembers.
It didn’t end up that approach – for which refugees are eternally grateful. At age 19, she turned a Catholic nun. Now, at age 79, she is being acknowledged as certainly one of Brazil’s most influential refugee advocates.
This week, she was honored with the U.N. Refugee Company’s Nansen Refugee Award for 40 years of activism. The U.N. calls her a “formidable refugee champion.” Venezuelan refugee, Elizabeth Tanare, described her to the U.N. because the “piece of the puzzle that brings every thing collectively.“
The award is a testomony to her life’s work. In 1999, Sister Rosita – who can also be a lawyer — based Brazil’s Migration and Human Proper’s Institute (IMDH), which she nonetheless oversees. Based on the U.N., over the past 40 years, she and her group have helped almost 800,000 refugees from 168 international locations entry authorized companies, well being care, housing, and work alternatives in Brazil. And she or he says a part of the explanation for her success has to do along with her early love of math!
NPR spoke to Sister Rosita in Geneva, the place she accepted the award in a ceremony on October 14th, by way of Skype. The interview has been translated from Portuguese to English and has been edited for size and readability.
What does this award imply to you?
To me, the Nansen award comes with a fantastic duty to mirror on who Nansen was and what which means.
Fridtjof Nansen of Norway was a scientist, polar explorer, diplomat, Nobel peace prize laureate and first Excessive Commissioner for Refugees for the League of Nations.
These are large footsteps to observe in.
Is that this an honor? Sure. However on the similar time, this can be a recognition of all of the individuals who helped me, who participated in my journey — particularly the refugees that I had the chance to help and accompany and who’ve at all times taught me classes of hope and religion that fueled my very own journey.
What are some life classes you’ve realized by way of your activism?
I’ve been dwelling this mission for a few years and have realized loads. Every particular person is exclusive. Each human being is exclusive. So you need to] take note of the particularities that every particular person expresses. Energetic listening is important. I can inform you that I’ve sought to be taught this, as a result of I’ve at all times been an individual with fast responses. And that’s not at all times one of the best ways. Listening is usually extra essential than responding. We be taught probably the most once we hear with our coronary heart and with care to the story that every refugee has lived and resides once we meet them.
Our weblog writes loads about international well being. How do you see well being – each bodily and psychological – as a difficulty in your activism?
In Brazil, we’ve a common health-care system which everybody has entry to. It doesn’t matter if they’re Brazilian or from one other nation or if they’re documented or not – everybody has entry to the common health-care system. It is a nice profit. Nevertheless, on the similar time, there are nonetheless many limitations – particularly in psychological well being care. Most refugees undergo huge emotional or psychiatric penalties due to how troublesome it’s to navigate the trail searching for a rustic that may welcome them. It’s needed that we strengthen [access to] each bodily well being and psychological well being companies so that folks can, at the very least partially, overcome the trauma of compelled migration, battle, starvation and every thing they went by way of to seek out refuge abroad.
Have you ever ever felt dismissed or not regarded with respect due to your age?
No, quite the opposite, I feel that my age offers me a bonus. I feel that the belief individuals have in me typically comes from realizing the years I’ve already lived. And I really feel nice pleasure when kids who don’t even know me come as much as me and name me “grandma.’ For me, my age is a constructive factor that encourages me to proceed and to move on [my knowledge].
How do individuals react to your being a nun?
I’m already well-known as ‘Sister Rosita.’ However some cultures have no idea what the “sister” title actually means. Typically individuals ask me the place my husband is or what number of kids I’ve. However thank God I’ve at all times been capable of welcome all individuals equally impartial of faith, tradition, or sexual orientation. I at all times attempt to welcome them. And due to that I feel individuals really feel extra snug round me regardless that I’m a nun.
The world is clearly failing to look after refugees – the U.N. repeatedly requires extra funding for such efforts. For those who had 3 needs to make issues higher, what would they be?
My first want can be for border management to not be about authorized or judicial management of the border however quite to at all times embody social work help to provide individuals in want the eye they deserve.
The second want can be for international locations around the globe to turn into extra keen to welcome and combine refugees into their communities. And for these communities to rejoice their new members for enriching their setting and permitting them to develop interculturally.
The third want can be for clear and efficient refugee integration applications. What refugees want most is a chance for efficient integration, the place they’ll take every thing that they’ve already realized in life and thru their journeys and use it of their new communities. And I want for his or her presents and skills to be acknowledged to allow them to really feel fulfilled and rebuild their very own lives within the international locations they arrive to.
Do you’ve gotten any phrases of recommendation to younger refugee activists?
I need them to know that this a improbable path to private achievement.
What does this new technology of activists carry to the trigger?
Younger persons are very energetic, very artistic. Once they become involved, these of us who’re older than them simply should rejoice their youthful dynamism and enthusiasm. However above all, [I want them to know] that their generosity and pursuit of humanitarian causes is a superb deed. The refugees shall be in nice arms with younger activists who’re utilizing their enthusiasm and pleasure towards these causes.
I heard that whenever you had been youthful you needed to turn into a math instructor. Does math play any position in your life at present?
I used to be by no means good at historical past, however I used to be nice at math. I used to be by no means capable of turn into a math instructor however I feel this facet comes out in me within the objectivity with which I conduct myself. In a approach, it is extremely constructive — I discover it very straightforward to observe administrative processes and I really feel assured working the establishments I presently run. And math can also be current within the objectivity and pace with which I make my selections. So regardless that I didn’t pursue instructing, these traits are nonetheless in me they usually assist me. However I additionally should be very cautious to not be too goal or fast in my responses and to essentially be certain that I’m listening fastidiously earlier than saying one thing. It’s one thing I at all times want to concentrate on and domesticate in my relationship with individuals.
Is there any message you wish to share with the world?
I feel our society nonetheless actually lacks the power to see the constructive impression of individuals migrating from different international locations to our territories. There’s a quote from a Brazilian singer that claims, “refugees arrive with few belongings however with many skills.” If society might change their perspective and worth, welcome, and supply alternatives for refugees to place their presents, skills, expertise, and coaching to work, loads might change for the higher — each for the refugees and the communities that welcome them.
