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
disguise caption
toggle caption
Marina Calderon/UNHCR
When she was a pupil, Rosita Milesi needed to grow to be a math trainer — she was at all times good on the topic, she remembers.
It didn’t prove 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 one among 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 all the pieces collectively.“
The award is a testomony to her life’s work. In 1999, Sister Rosita – who can be a lawyer — based Brazil’s Migration and Human Proper’s Institute (IMDH), which she nonetheless oversees. In accordance with the U.N., during the last 40 years, she and her group have helped practically 800,000 refugees from 168 nations entry authorized providers, well being care, housing, and work alternatives in Brazil. And she or he says a part of the rationale for her success has to do together 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, through 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 an awesome accountability to mirror on who Nansen was and what meaning.
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 huge 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 discovered by your activism?
I’ve been dwelling this mission for a few years and have discovered rather a lot. Every particular person is exclusive. Each human being is exclusive. So it’s a must to] take note of the particularities that every particular person expresses. Energetic listening is crucial. I can let you know that I’ve sought to study this, as a result of I’ve at all times been an individual with fast responses. And that’s not at all times the easiest way. Listening is commonly extra essential than responding. We study probably the most after we pay attention with our coronary heart and with care to the story that every refugee has lived and resides after we meet them.
Our weblog writes rather a lot about world well being. How do you see well being – each bodily and psychological – as a difficulty in your activism?
In Brazil, now we have 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. Nonetheless, on the similar time, there are nonetheless many limitations – particularly in psychological well being care. Most refugees undergo monumental emotional or psychiatric penalties due to how troublesome it’s to navigate the trail seeking a rustic that can welcome them. It’s crucial that we strengthen [access to] each bodily well being and psychological well being providers so that folks can, no less than partially, overcome the trauma of pressured migration, struggle, starvation and all the pieces they went by to seek out refuge in a foreign country.
Have you ever ever felt dismissed or not regarded with respect due to your age?
No, quite the opposite, I believe that my age offers me a bonus. I believe that the belief folks have in me usually comes from realizing the years I’ve already lived. And I really feel nice pleasure when youngsters who don’t even know me come as much as me and name me “grandma.’ For me, my age is a optimistic factor that encourages me to proceed and to go on [my knowledge].
How do folks 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 folks ask me the place my husband is or what number of youngsters I’ve. However thank God I’ve at all times been in a position to welcome all folks equally impartial of faith, tradition, or sexual orientation. I at all times attempt to welcome them. And due to that I believe folks really feel extra snug round me though I’m a nun.
The world is clearly failing to take care of refugees – the U.N. repeatedly requires extra funding for such efforts. If you happen to 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 moderately to at all times embody social work help to provide folks in want the eye they deserve.
The second want can be for nations world wide to grow to be extra prepared to welcome and combine refugees into their communities. And for these communities to have fun their new members for enriching their surroundings and permitting them to develop interculturally.
The third want can be for clear and efficient refugee integration packages. What refugees want most is a chance for efficient integration, the place they’ll take all the pieces that they’ve already discovered in life and thru their journeys and use it of their new communities. And I want for his or her items and skills to be acknowledged to allow them to really feel fulfilled and rebuild their very own lives within the nations they arrive to.
Do you may have any phrases of recommendation to younger refugee activists?
I would like them to know that this a implausible path to non-public success.
What does this new era of activists carry to the trigger?
Younger individuals are very full of life, very artistic. Once they get entangled, these of us who’re older than them simply must have fun 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 might 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 grow to be a math trainer. Does math play any function in your life immediately?
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 in a position to grow to be a math trainer however I believe this aspect comes out in me within the objectivity with which I conduct myself. In a approach, it is vitally optimistic — I discover it very straightforward to observe administrative processes and I really feel assured operating the establishments I at the moment run. And math can be current within the objectivity and velocity with which I make my selections. So though I didn’t pursue educating, these traits are nonetheless in me they usually assist me. However I additionally must be very cautious to not be too goal or fast in my responses and to actually be certain 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 folks.
Is there any message you wish to share with the world?
I believe our society nonetheless actually lacks the flexibility to see the optimistic influence of individuals migrating from different nations to our territories. There’s a quote from a Brazilian singer that claims, “refugees arrive with few belongings however with many abilities.” If society might change their perspective and worth, welcome, and supply alternatives for refugees to place their items, abilities, expertise, and coaching to work, rather a lot might change for the higher — each for the refugees and the communities that welcome them.