Sister Rosita Milesi, who’s the World Laureate of the 2024 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award. She calls the dignity “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 pupil, Rosita Milesi wished to grow to be a math instructor — she was at all times good on the topic, she remembers.
It didn’t end up that means – for which refugees are eternally grateful. At age 19, she grew to become a Catholic nun. Now, at age 79, she is being acknowledged as one in every 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 part 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. In line with the U.N., during the last 40 years, she and her crew 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 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 an excellent accountability to replicate 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 comply with in.
Is that this an honor? Sure. However on the similar time, it is 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 residing this mission for a few years and have realized 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. Lively listening is important. 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 one of the best ways. Listening is commonly extra necessary than responding. We study essentially the most once we pay attention with our coronary heart and with care to the story that every refugee has lived and resides once 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 problem 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. Nonetheless, on the similar time, there are nonetheless many limitations – particularly in psychological well being care. Most refugees endure monumental emotional or psychiatric penalties due to how troublesome it’s to navigate the trail looking for a rustic that may welcome them. It’s needed that we strengthen [access to] each bodily well being and psychological well being providers so that individuals can, a minimum of partially, overcome the trauma of pressured migration, struggle, starvation and every part 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 believe that my age provides me a bonus. I believe 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 go 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. Generally 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 unbiased of faith, tradition, or sexual orientation. I at all times attempt to welcome them. And due to that I believe individuals really feel extra snug round me although 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 present individuals 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 a good time their new members for enriching their setting 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 every part 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 abilities to be acknowledged to allow them to really feel fulfilled and rebuild their very own lives within the nations they arrive to.
Do you could have any phrases of recommendation to younger refugee activists?
I need them to know that this a incredible path to private achievement.
What does this new technology of activists deliver to the trigger?
Younger persons are very full of life, very artistic. Once they become involved, these of us who’re older than them simply need to have a good time 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 will likely be in nice palms with younger activists who’re utilizing their enthusiasm and pleasure towards these causes.
I heard that once you had been youthful you wished to grow to be a math instructor. Does math play any position in your life at the moment?
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 grow to be a math instructor however I believe this facet comes out in me within the objectivity with which I conduct myself. In a means, it is vitally constructive — I discover it very straightforward to comply with administrative processes and I really feel assured working the establishments I presently run. And math can also be current within the objectivity and velocity with which I make my selections. So although I didn’t pursue educating, these traits are nonetheless in me and so they assist me. However I additionally need to be very cautious to not be too goal or fast in my responses and to actually make sure that I’m listening rigorously earlier than saying one thing. It’s one thing I at all times want to pay attention to and domesticate in my relationship with individuals.
Is there any message you wish to share with the world?
I believe our society nonetheless actually lacks the power to see the constructive impression 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 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, rather a lot might change for the higher — each for the refugees and the communities that welcome them.