Sister Rosita Milesi is the worldwide laureate of the 2024 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 all the time 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 change into a math trainer — she was all the time good on the topic, she remembers.
It did not 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 all 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 the whole lot 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 Rights Institute (IMDH), which she nonetheless oversees. In response to the U.N., during the last 40 years she and her workforce have helped practically 800,000 refugees from 168 nations entry authorized providers, well being care, housing and work alternatives in Brazil. And he or she says a part of the explanation for her success has to do together with her early love of math!
NPR spoke by way of Skype to Sister Rosita in Geneva, the place she accepted the award in a ceremony on Oct. 14. This 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 terrific accountability to replicate 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 comply with 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 all the time taught me classes of hope and religion that fueled my very own journey.
What are some life classes you have realized by your activism?
I’ve been residing this mission for a few years and have realized lots. Every particular person is exclusive. Each human being is exclusive. So you must take note of the particularities that every particular person expresses. Energetic listening is crucial. I can inform you that I’ve sought to be taught this, as a result of I’ve all the time been an individual with fast responses. And that is not all the time the easiest way. Listening is commonly extra vital than responding. We be taught 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 lots 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 well being care system which everybody has entry to. It would not matter if they’re Brazilian or from one other nation or if they’re documented or not — everybody has entry to the common well being care system. This can be 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 tough it’s to navigate the trail in quest of a rustic that may welcome them. It’s vital that we strengthen [access to] each bodily well being and psychological well being providers so that folks can, at the very least partly, overcome the trauma of compelled migration, warfare, starvation and the whole lot they went by to seek out refuge overseas.
Have you ever ever felt dismissed or not regarded with respect due to your age?
No, quite the opposite, I feel that my age provides 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 youngsters who do not even know me come as much as me and name me “grandma.” For me, my age is a constructive component that encourages me to proceed and to cross 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 youngsters I’ve. However thank God I’ve all the time been capable of welcome all individuals equally impartial of faith, tradition or sexual orientation. I all the time attempt to welcome them. And due to that I feel individuals really feel extra comfy round me regardless that I’m a nun.
The world is clearly failing to take care of refugees — the U.N. repeatedly requires extra funding for such efforts. In case you had three needs to make issues higher, what would they be?
My first want could be for border management to not be about authorized or judicial management of the border however somewhat to all the time embrace social work help to provide individuals in want the eye they deserve.
The second want could be for nations all over the world to change into extra prepared to welcome and combine refugees into their communities. And for these communities to have fun their new members for enriching their setting and permitting them to develop interculturally.
The third want could be for clear and efficient refugee integration packages. What refugees want most is a chance for efficient integration, the place they will take the whole lot 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 implausible path to private success.
What does this new technology of activists carry to the trigger?
Younger individuals are very energetic, very artistic. After they get entangled, these of us who’re older than them simply should 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 shall be in nice fingers with younger activists who’re utilizing their enthusiasm and pleasure towards these causes.
I heard that once you have been youthful you wished to change into a math trainer. Does math play any position in your life as we speak?
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 change into a math trainer, however I feel this facet comes out in me within the objectivity with which I conduct myself. In a means, it is rather constructive — I discover it very simple to comply with administrative processes, and I really feel assured working the establishments I at present run. And math can be current within the objectivity and velocity with which I make my selections. So regardless that I didn’t pursue instructing, these traits are nonetheless in me and so they assist me. However I additionally should be very cautious to not be too goal or fast in my responses and to actually be certain I’m listening rigorously earlier than saying one thing. It’s one thing I all the time want to pay attention to 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 flexibility to see the constructive affect 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, lots might change for the higher — each for the refugees and the communities that welcome them.
