* Photographs: Alberta Cavallo
Click to read the article in Turkish
Refugees from Africa, Asia and local people from Italy make their stories heard with the "Global Chorus" by "Cooperativa Sociale Pathos" in Caulonia, Italy. Refugees in Italy, who had the chance to visit different cities through their chorus, have said that they no longer feel alone.
A very similar chorus, which is called "Our Face Toward the Earth" brings together a lot of refugee women and local women from Turkey by the International Association for Solidarity with Migrant Women. The chairwomen, who spoke to bianet before and sang Turkish and Arabic songs together, have said that they broke many prejudices.
Şevval Şener, who went from Turkey to Italy to work as a volunteer with refugees with ERASMUS+ program, is one of the Global Chorus' members. When Şener saw the news of bianet about the chorus which is made in Turkey, she pointed out that she was impressed a lot. "I realized that these two choruses, which were established in completely different contexts in different countries with different people and in different political situations, were actually born from a similar solidarity", she has said.
A similar solidarity elsewhere
After stating that this kind of activities are very important for living together. Şener has continued, "Caulonia is a very small town by the sea, everyone knows each other. However, there are not many activities that bring the community together. While the Global Chorus was founded, it aimed to create an environment where all of the Caulonia community could come together and share through music.
"The first thing the Global Chorus reminds me is the Christophe Barratier's movie "Chorus", which was directed in 2004. A teacher who starts to work in a boarding school builds a choir instead of using violent and discriminative methods proposed by the school principal, to allow children to discover themselves and experience communicating in a group. The Global Chorus showed the possibilities to overcome cultural, linguistic and personal barriers by composing and singing songs all together."
'Anti-immigration policies'
Şener has stated that she had the chance to observe the migration policies of both sides and added,
"Turkey does not grant refugee status to people immigrating from outside of Europe, in Italy refugee status is given but with different status of protection, which led to opportunities of accessing social rights. However, in the last two years, the anti-immigration policies of the Italian government aim to decrease the entrance of the refugees to the country."
'On the one hand examples of solidarity and on the other threats to immigrants'
Şener has also referred to the declaration dated July 18, 2019 that the Ministry of Interior announced concerning the sending of the migrants living in Istanbul to other cities or their countries.
"After the declaration, we have seen many testimonies, videos and news that migrants are forced to leave Istanbul, and even some of them were forced to sign a letter to claim that they turn back to their countries 'willingly'.
"On the one hand, we talk about examples of solidarity, about living together; but on the other hand, such practices are being made. This insane practice against the immigrants living in Istanbul needs to be urgently stopped."
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'I had no safety in my life'
19-year-old Alieu Sowe, who came to Italy from Gambia as a refugee, has told his story and the process of meeting with the chorus:
"I did not feel safe in Gambia. It is ordinary that people threaten, injure, kill each other for nothing. I was robbed and threatened with my life. For this reason, I left Gambia in February 2016 and entered Italy through Senegal, Mali, Algeria, Libya and Reggio Calabria.
When I arrived in Caulonia, I found out that this Global Chorus was being established. From the beginning, I have been with the chorus. Before, no one knew who was Alex, now I have a group with this chorus. I stated to come together with the people that I thought we were different. The chorus is not for singing, but for coming together."
'I feel better now'
19-year-old Robin Sardar has explained that he had to immigrate from Bangladesh to Italy for political and economic reasons. Sardar has said that he wanted to establish a safe and better future for himself. "8-9 months ago, the mediator told me about the chorus and I got involved. After joining the chorus, I had new friends and I feel better."
24-year-old Abcoulaye Balde, who immigrated from Senegal to Italy nine years ago and currently works as the cultural mediator at Pathos has shared, "We are looking for the answers of the question 'What is the meaning of living together?' in this chorus.
"The process of being forced to migrate or deciding to migrate is difficult. Then, you start sharing your story with people you don't know, and became partners in a new story. Here, we are like a huge family in Caulonia."
Angela Bolognino is an Italian who lives in Caulonia, Italy. Bolognino, who has been in the choir for two years, has said that he was initially directed to the association to work through his school. Bolognino, who taught Italian, history and geography to the refugees in the association, said that she joined to the establishment process of this choir.
'We have to listen to each other'
Angela Bolognino has explained what the choir feels like in her:
"I'm really grateful for this experience. Not just because I enjoy spending time with these people. Because I think music is the perfect tool for expressing migration and what it brings. Everyone has a unique voice, a different tone, and we listen to each other to notice it. We must not be too dominant or too weak, just listen to each other and respect each other, like life itself.
"It is very valuable for the local people here to understand them. I have been changing so much in these two years. Most importantly, I changed the way I see these people. When I watch TV, I see the news about the refugees completely different. Because I am a completely different person, I know the members of this choir closely and I know what they feel."
Stating that this solidarity is very important all over the world, Angela has concluded: "Here we have both the same solidarity with Turkey is very significant." (Aİ/AÖ/SD)
* This text has been translated by Asmin Ayçe İdil Kaya and Şevval Şener.
