Helping Filipino Migrants' Associations in Milan and Rome

Based on the suggestions of the MAPID research key informants and the requests of the MAPID trainees, at the end of 2009, ISMU Foundation decided to organize a mentorship service for the Filipino migrants’ associations which participated in the MAPID training programs. For this purpose, a “help desk” was established at the ISMU headquarters in Milan with the task of responding to all the needs of the Filipino migrants’ associations willing to engage in the migration and development exercise. The desk intended to offer assistance for the official registration of the associations to the pertinent Italian institutions and in the elaboration and implementation of co-development projects.

The desk was opened in December 2009 and initially operated on a voluntary basis, thanks to the free collaboration of some MAPID trainers. Ms. Annavittoria Sarli was with entrusted the coordination of the service, from the identification of the needs of the associations to the concrete offer of assistance. Particularly instrumental to the development of the help desk was Mr. Loris Favero, one of the MAPID trainers. The latter accepted to support the MAPID Project Assistant in this task.

The first activity of the help desk was the offer of free consultancy to MAPID trainees in Lombardy willing to elaborate co-development project proposals.  In 2010 four meetings were held involving four Filipino migrants’ associations interested in this matter. The meetings were organized and coordinated by Ms. Sarli and Mr. Favero. After the first meeting, one association decided to quit due to internal problems. After several and lively debates, the remaining three associations (the Colori del Mondo Adda, the Disciples for Jesus and the Mindanao Overseas Workers Abroad – M.O.W.A.) decided to prepare a single project proposal resulting combining their three different proposals. The new project proposal was titled “Basura Mo, Produkto Ko, Kab Kap Ka!” The proposal entailed three actions:

• The establishment of two multi-purpose centres, one in Mindanao and one in Kalulut, for the organization and implementation of livelihood programs addressing local communities, especially jobless homemakers. The programs would entail the production of handicrafts (e.g., baskets, dresses, interior decors, and other native products) possibly using recycled waste materials. The multi-purpose centers would also serve as day-care facilities for children and elderly.

• The organization of an import-export venture to market the products made in the multi-purpose centres (and other Philippine handicraft products) in Italy, taking advantage of street markets and handicraft fairs.

• The organization of orientation services, Italian language courses and training programs on active citizenship addressed to all migrants in the municipalities of Milan and Inzago.

The joint project proposal was submitted  in response to the call for proposals of “Milano per il co-sviluppo” (Milan for co-development), which was launched by the Municipality of Milan in November 2009. The association chosen as project proponent, namely “I Colori del Mondo Adda,” worked hard with Ms. Sarli and Mr. Favero to write the project and produce the necessary documentation. To finalize the proposal two more meetings were held with the participation of the two associations acting as partners. Unfortunately, when the list of the approved project proposals was published by the Municipality of Milan in November 2010, the project “Basura Mo, Produkto Ko. Kab Kap Ka!” was not in the list. Due to unforeseen changes in the selection process, the three Filipino migrants’ associations had to compete with big and experienced Italian NGOs that presented multifaceted and well structured project proposals.

Between October and November 2010, Ms. Sarli and Mr. Favero organized and coordinated two more meetings with “I Colori del Mondo Adda,” “Disciples for Jesus” and “M.O.W.A.” In the first meeting, guidelines on how to plan fund raising initiatives aiming at ensuring financial resources, which are necessary for the implementation of the project, or  in strengthening the co-financing capability of the involved associations were discussed. In the second meeting, upon knowing the negative result of the selection process, the associations decided to  continue working on different fund raising actions and search new financing opportunities for the joint project proposal.

The second activity of the help desk was the offer of mentorship to the MAPID trainees in Rome. Several trainees decided to gather together to discuss how to maximize the opportunities identified, thanks to the MAPID Project. During the first meeting in April 2010, which was organized and coordinated by Ms. Sarli and Dr. Pasquale Campo (a MAPID trainer based in Rome), the participants decided to establish a “coordination team” that would facilitate the sharing of all the resources and competences of the represented Filipino migrants’ associations, channelling them towards common objectives. A second meeting was held in May 2010. It was organized and coordinated by Ms. Sarli. At the end of the meeting, the participants decided to structure the coordination team into a real association.  A third meeting was organized in June 2010, which was  also coordinated by Ms. Sarli and Mr. Favero. During the meeting some important aspects of the bylaws (general objectives and activities) were discussed. In July 2010, Ms. Sarli and Mr. Favero called the coordination team to a fourth meeting to discuss some important matters concerning the association’s life and to elect the board of directors. In September 2010, Ms. Sarli and Mr. Favero worked on the correction and Italian translation of the association’s bylaws and foundation act. The new association was named “MAPID Roma.” A fifth meeting was held in October 2010. Ms. Sarli and  Mr. Favero coordinated the meeting which focused on the explanation of the changes in the initial bylaws and the process for the official registration of MAPID Roma. The changes were approved and the registration process was completed in December 2010.

The third activity of the help desk was the mentorship specifically offered to the association “Fil. A.M.I.C.I.” (Filipino Association of Migrants in Italy for the Common Interest) which expressed its will to process its official registration to the pertinent Italian institution. Ms. Sarli and Mr. Favero assisted the association’s directors in the elaboration and Italian translation of the association’s bylaws and founding act. To this extent, three meetings with the association’s members (two in June 2010 and one in December 2010) were organized. The first two meetings aimed at discussing some points of the association’s bylaws and explaining the process for the official registration. The third meeting focused on the identification of migration and development activities to be undertaken in 2011. The registration process of Fil. A.M.I.C.I. was completed in December 2010. All the meetings organized in Milan were held at the headquarters of the ISMU Foundation. All the meetings in Rome were held at the parish hall of Santa Lucia Parish near Piazzale Clodio. The venue was offered for free thanks to the mediation of the Project Director.