Reflections

of migration in Italy

A Colle c tion:
S t ori e s
I n t e rvi e w s
Ph otog ra ph y
By Abbey Little
Reflections
Contents
03
About the Project

05
A Good Neighbor

08
Tayyab Saleem

10
Living Missions

11
Saving Lives at Sea

17
S t i t c h i n g To g e t h e r C o m m u n i t y

19
Annika Milisic-Stanley
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About the Project

When it comes to the topic of immigration, refugees and migrants, there
is an abundance of information in the world. Many of the talk centered
around this issue lists statistic after statistic, and while yes, those numbers
are important, the people being talked about are so much more than that.
Their stories matter and they deserve to be told.

The stories that fill these pages are about people who have followed the
callings for their lives to be people that help others. They are people who
have risked their lives to pursue a dream. They are people who have worked
tirelessly to make a difference. These stories, and these people, inspire
me to think about the world a little differently and to be thankful for the
blessings I have been given.

To those whom allowed me to tell their stories, thank you for giving your
time, your knowledge and your trust.

Reflections
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CLOCKWISE: Nassim migrated from Afghanistan to Italy. He now serves as the chef of the Joel Nafuma Refugee Center in Rome, ensuring each guest
receives a nutritious breakfast each day.; A refugee mother celebrates her baby boy’s first birthday at the Safe Space Nursery in Rome. The Nursery
was founded in joint partnership by Medici per i Diritti Umani (MEDU), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Joel
Nafuma Refugee Center.; A gardener waters his fruit and vegetable plot in Sicily. The garden project was created by a group of missionaries.; A ‘Mi-
grant Lives Matter’ banner hangs in the entry way of the Joel Nafuma Refugee Center. The banner serves as a reminder that all guests at the center are

valued. Abbey Little Photos

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Rios plays a game of foosball in the JNRC, one of the many activities offered to guests each day. Others include language classes, meals, job training and

A Good Neighbor
guitar lessons. Austin Rios Photo

A
ustin K. Rios, a United
native, now lives in Rome, Italy,
where he serves as both the Rect or of
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Executive Director of the Joel Nafuma
Refugee Center (JNRC), a day-center in
the heart of Rome that seeks to provide
a support net work for refugees, asylum
seekers and migrants. Rios has served as
an ordained priest for 14-years and has
been involved within the humanitarian
field since seminary completion in 2003.
“After graduating from seminary, I
went to Mexico to work as a missio nary.
It helped me see, both within the church
and in the larger societal patterns, how
we relate to each other as neighbors,”
Rios said. “If you’re called to love God,
then you’re called to love your neighbor
and you’re called to love them as much
as yourself. This concept fits right into
immigration and all of the migration
issues [around the world].”
Rios’s concept of neighborliness fits
States in directly with his faith, which plays
an essential role in his life and work.
In a field that is extremely diverse in
and the viewpoints, languages, cultures and
backgrounds, he is concerned with how
people value themselves and each other,
as well as how they understand their
place in the larger community.
“I feel like for me, I care less about
what words or what names people use
for God and more about how they care
for each other. It’s less about do we all
believe the exact same and more about
- Can we eat at the same table? Can we
break bread together?”
Each month, the JNRC hosts
fundraising dinners, each planned
with a specific theme celebrating the
culture and cuisine of a country. People
from around Rome are invited to join
volunteers, staff and students for a night
of dancing and food.
“When we are all at the center for
our fundraising dinners, I see everyone

Reflections
 -06-

enjoying themselves. And when I see In addition to the journey they take,
people who have all sorts of reasons migrants face their own set of challenges
to be divided not being that way, it’s a upon their arrival to Italy. Rios addressed
glimpse into the Kingdom for me,” Rios the main issue that coincides with the
said. current political climate of the country.
Rios has focused his time as both “The most dominant hardship these
Rector and Executive Director in being migrants face is finding housing and
completely transparent and honest about work because of the pressures from a
his faith, seeing his humanitarian work government that is seeking to make
as part of a whole of his ministry rather political points on their backs. Salvini is
than just a fragment. working to divide people based on their
“We commemorate status – Are you a
Jesus washing the
“This act was not about a foreigner? Are you
disciples’ feet the a native to Italy? –
Thursday of Holy Week powerful giver giving to and while thi s kind
each year. After a few of division may
a vulnerable receiver, but
years of doing this work in the short-
[only in the church], I the exact opposite - it was term to consolidate
began questioning it. an amount of
We went out and set up
about valuing common power, it erodes
chairs and a couple of humanity and the fact that many aspects of
buckets of water at the what it means
entrance of the alley these feet have taken them to be a healthy
way of the JNRC. At community,” said
from [countries] far away
first, people thought Rios.
it was weird, but the to this place, and that Previously,
experience of getting migrants who
to wash some of our
these feet are blessed.” didn’t qualify for
guests’ feet alongside refugee status,
my daughter, was one - Austin K. Rios were offered either
of the more meaningful subsidiary or
experiences I have had,” said Rios. humanitarian protection. Howeve r, the
“Some of the African guests were taken Salvini Decree, which went into effect in
over by the Holy Spirit, going down into the autumn of 2018, cut out humanitarian
the JNRC and playing piano, all singing status, leaving many migrants without a
and dancing. This act was not about a way to find work or being evicted from
powerful giver giving to a vulnerable their current shelters.
receiver, but the exact opposite. I t was “You can see how this plays out
about valuing common humanity and politically. It is a way of creating an
the fact that these feet have taken them illegal class. When you put someone in a
from [countries] far away to this place, position where they are more vulnerable,
and that these feet are blessed.” you can put pressure on them. These
 -07-

people don’t and can’t say anything an “overly bureaucratic” country, but
because they know they can be deported for being a leader for change.
at any time”, Rios said. “At the same “I think that if done correctly and
time, they are used for labor because faithfully, the church is still the best
they are desperate. This helps these vehicle for social change. It’s a reminder
politicians in the short-term capital that the church has a history that is
gain, but not in the long-term because bigger than our lifetime. It’s a reminder
that only comes from a strong, diverse that it’s not all our efforts, even if it
economy.” requires our efforts,” Rios said. “People
Rios believes the JNRC is an essential can experience love, acceptance and
piece of ministry within St. Paul’s community that come not because of
Episcopal Church and a key aspect of natural affinity groups, but because of a
the community, not only for helping willingness to understand each other as
migrants find their path in the midst of already linked together.”

CLOCKWISE: Rios signs a grant for the Joel Nafuma Refugee Center to provide new programming for guests. The grant was awarded by the United
States Ambassador of the Holy See, Callista Gingrich. Abbey Little Photo; Rios stands with two American missionaries and a collection of sleeping

bags donated to the JNRC. Each winter, the JNRC collects supplies to keep refugees living on the streets warm. Austin Rios Photo; The JNRC is filled

with community members for the monthly fundraising dinner. Each dinner showcases an ethnic cuisine from around the world. Abbey Little Photo

Reflections
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Tayyab
Saleem
Tayyab Saleem was born in a small
village in Pakistan where he lived with
his family and attended school. For col-
lege, he moved to a larger city, studying
sociology, geography and history. Sev-
en years ago, he made the journey to
Italy. His migration route took him by
car, truck, train and ship through Iran,
Turkey, Greece and finally, Italy.
He remained in Rome for two years
without documents and unemployed. To
make a living, Saleem sold Coca-Cola,
tea and coconuts on nearby beaches,
worked cleaning cars in mechanic shops
and sold flowers in stands around the
city.
With the help of various non-profits
and advocates for refugees and mi-
grants throughout Rome, Saleem began
taking language courses in Italian, En-
glish and German. With their guidance,
he went through the application process
of filing for documentation and received
legal status as an Italian resident.
Nearly ten months ago, Saleem
began working as a part-time waiter
for a popular restaurant in the Traste-
vere rione of Rome. Now, because of his
improved languages, he works under
contract. Saleem spends his mornings
continuing his studies with Italian,
English and German, and his evenings
working as a waiter.
Saleem said his journey has not
been without difficulties and challeng-
es, however he now has a greater un-
derstanding for different cultures and
people.

Abbey Little Photo

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CLOCKWISE: Missionaries in Catania, Italy utilize prayer maps for important places around the city. Each place is marked on the map with Bible
verses and prayer requests.; Baylor students visit with refugees in a worship center in an Italian village nearby a refugee camp. Missionaries shuttle
refugees to and from their camp for a time of prayer, worship and fellowship together.; A refugee mother and baby sit and rest at the worship center.;
Volunteers work to build a community garden space. The garden is intended to allow refugees and community members to grow fruits and vegetables
on their individual plots to feel ownership in their new home. Abbey Little Photos

Reflections

Missionaries in Sicily utilize this space as a worship center and gathering place for refugees in a nearby camp. Guests speak a variety of languages and the
Living Missions
message is translated into each one. Abbey Little Photo
J
ames White* has served
ministry field for 20 years. In 2012,
he moved to Sicily, Italy from the United
States to begin working as a missionary
and church p lanter in a region of Italy
where many migrants,
asylum seekers are present.
“Jesus made it clear that we were
meant to go to those in need. I have
always had a heart to work with people
in difficult situations and for me, that
includes migrants, refugees and asylum
seekers,” White said.
rol e here is to facilitate
Commission.”
White’s fa ith provides the motivation
for going to those in need, has given him
hope for the future and encourages him
to give hope to those who have a difficult
life here on earth.
“I love, serve and disciple people.
Som days I’m reading the Bible with
someone, while others I’m providing
meals,” White said. “Alongside other
missionaries, we pray for and with the
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in the people we meet. We help these refugees
find resources that will help them along
their journey, teach them Christian
values and help them teach others.”
In addition to equipping refugees with
refugees and Biblical knowledge and prayer, White
and his team organize resume building
workshops, cooking classes and laundry
appointments, teach in Italian churches
and fundraise for projects.
“I understand that Jesus gave
everything for me to be restored to God
“My primary the Father [and that is] what allowed me
the Great to be willing to give my life to him in
service,” White said. “The Gospe ls say
that Jesus was moved with compassion
for the crowds and He has allowed me
to feel this same compassion for others.
The refugee stories have helped me learn
that at the core, we are all the same.
We are all in desperate need of God and
are lost without Him, even if we have a
home, wealth and comfort.”
* Name changed for safety.
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Saving Lives at Sea

Brendan Woodhouse stands among fellow rescuers on board a Sea-Watch rescue ship. The Sea-Watch organization was founded in 2014 from a
group of volunteers dedicated to saving those drowning in the Mediterranean Sea. Doug Kuntz Photo

Reflections
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T
he United Nations High and they were feeding me, insisting on
Commissioner for Refugees giving me half of everything they had –
estimated in August that 40,624 refugees which was nothing. I began going back
and migrants have arrived by sea in 2019 and forth between Calais and Dunkirk
alone. every few weeks, just filling up my van
Brendan Woodhouse from Derbyshire, with thousands of blankets and sleeping
England, plays a part in helping those bags.”
refugees arrive safely to land. As a While serving with Lighthouse
firefighter for nearly 17 years, he has Refugee Relief in December 2015, he
taken his rescue skills and mentality met volunteers from Sea-Watch. By
from land to the sea to help save lives. March 2016, Woodhouse was serving as
Woodhouse was first expos ed to a sea rescuer in the Mediterranean. In
the refugee crisis in April 2015 when a the years since he began volunteering
large ship sank in the Mediterranean with Sea-Watch, he has made countless
Sea, leading to the deaths of up to rescues – resuscitating a baby aft er the
700 migrants. Just returning from boat capsized off the coast of G reece,
Afghanistan while serving alongside the pulling a man from the water as he took
British Army as a medic, he wanted to in a breath of sea water, among many
help. others.
“I researched and found it was poor “I’ve seen a lot of dead bodies.
there were only a few organizations that Ordinary human beings- women, men,
had really just started working in the children – drowning in the sea and they
sea. In August, I read a Facebook post drown without names. I remember doing
about large groups of refugees trying CPR on a 16-year-old girl on the back of
to get out of France, all living in tent an Italian warship and I’ve got no idea
cities called jungles,” Woodhouse said. where she comes from,” Woodhouse said.
“I couldn’t find how to help at sea, so I “She had no family on the boat with her.
thought I’d go maybe give a few jumpers, We don’t know her name. Who’s going
a few sleeping bags and then drive away to tell her family that she’s dead? Who’s
knowing I had done my best.” going to tell her mother? We’ll take her
However, what Woodhouse to Europe and put her in the ground,
experienced would change the course nameless.”
of both his life and hundreds of re fugee Most recently, in January 2019,
lives for years to come. Woodhouse and his team were searching
“Before I left for Calais, I had read for refugees when they received a call
in the newspapers, as everybody else about a boat in distress. The boat was
does, the stories about the dangers the sighted by a Moonbird, a reconnaissance
people coming over present. I think that airplane, with an estimated 50
had affected me without ever wanting it passengers on board.
to. I was taken aback by how wonderful “I was driving one of the rescue
and generous these people were,” speedboats and we had a 45-minute plow
Woodhouse said. “They had no thing through the water to get to them. There
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we re 47 people in a small, blue rubber to him, to understand him. Woodhouse

boat in the sea. The boat was leaking, explained that Doro’s story is far from
and the engine didn’t work,” Woodhouse unique, but an absolute testament to the
said. “They had no navigation equipment very real conditions that are faced.
or lights. It was immediately clear to me “After leaving his home country, he
that they had no chance of making it found himself in Libya where he was
back to land in any direction before their wrapped up and caught in a syst em of
boat would have deflated and they would abuse, torture and enslavement. He
have all drowned.” paid smugglers to get him across the
After the rescue, the Sea-Watch crew Mediterranean Sea but was caught by the
spent the next couple of weeks trying Libyan coastguard and returned to Libya,
to get to a port of where he then was put
safety. into a detention center,”
“No European Woodhouse said.
country was giving “There, he was tortured.
us a port to safety. We They bound him by his
we nt to Lampedusa, hands and hung him
to Malta, and from the rafters of the
then to Sicily. We roof and made a video
waited outside of phone call to his mother.
Sicily. At one point They beat him and put
we were told we cigarettes out on him,
we ren’t allowed to but he refused to scream
leave Sicily, but we because he didn’t want
we ren’t allowed to to distress his mother
disembark either. anymore.”
Essentially, we were Woodhouse explained
kept like prisoners that the detention center
for 12 days on the guards then brought
ship in conditions While listening to Doro tell his story, Woodhouse exclaimed out knives and began
“Doro, you’re beautiful - the camera loves you!” Doro laughed
that weren’t t he best and Woodhouse captured the moment. stabbing Doro’s upper
Brendan Woodhouse Photo
for that many people body until he screamed.
for that amount The next day, his mother
of time,” Woodhouse said. “You can sold her house for $7,000 and paid his
imagine these people – they have come ransom. However, after recovering from
from torture, enslavement and all kinds his first capture, he was sold as a slave
of abuse. The psychological distress of from the detention center for the price
being kept at sea but being able to see of a smart phone. He was forced to work
land - their ultimate destination - and on construction sites until he escaped.
being kept from it was quite profound.” Doro eventually earned enough money
During the days at sea, Woodhouse to pay for another crossing from Libya
got to know a man named Doro. He to Europe but was once again caught by
gained his trust and was able to speak the Libyan coast guard and returned to

Reflections
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CLOCKWISE: Mothers, children and Ali, a 16- year-old boy, wave goodbye to the ship crew as the bus takes them to the registration center. Registration
upon arrival is a key step for accessing basic assistance, protection and identification. Sea-Watch Photo ; Refugees recued by Sea-Watch play soccer onboard
the ship with a duct tape ball as they await their port of safety. Woodhouse said the game was a look into how truly similar everyone is, even with a language
barrier. Brendan Woodhouse Photo; Young teenage boys enjoy a moment of music and laughter, a way of passing the time while being kept on the ship
away from land outside of Sicily. Woodhouse described the spirit of the boys as magical. Brendan Woodhouse Photo; Sea-Watch crew members give English
and French lessons to guests on the ship. For some, this was the first school they had received in months and they were desperate to learn, polite and atten-
tive. Brendan Woodhouse Photo
Reflections

Libya where he was tortured.
“He refused to give his mother’s
number and he deleted all of his family
details before making the crossing
again. This time, they stabbed him in
the stomach and opened his intestines,
drug him into the street and dropped his
body for dead,” Woodhouse said. “He
was found by a woman who looked after
him until he was able to leave and work,
until he was sold as a slave yet again.
Eventually, he found his way to another
boat. This time, on the 19th of January,
we found him.”
After some time in Sicily, Doro was
transferred to France, where he received
his papers giving him the right to remain
for ten years.
“It’s incredible news. Some of the
others weren’t able to get that kind of
length of stay, but his story is quite
harsh compared to some others. You can
see the scars on his face and his whole
body. You can see the rope burns on his
wrists. Every part of his body has scars,”
Woodhouse said. “He’s been given right
to remain and he has now been able to
call his mother, who for years, thought
he was dead. He wants to work and send
money back home to his mom.”
Much like Doro’s journey,
refugee and migrant faces risk.
“Those that don’t get rescued or
taken by NGO’s are captured, and I use
the word captured very deliberately
because they are captured by the Libyan
coastguard a nd then returned to the
same conditions they were trying to
flee,” Woodhouse said. “This is in direct
contradiction of the Non-Refoulement
Principle.”
The Non-Refoulement Principle
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was first laid out in 1954 in the United
Nations Convention relating to the
status of refugees. Article 33 states “No
Contracting State shall expel or return
a refugee in any manner whatsoever to
the frontiers of territories where his
life or freedom would be threatened on
account of his race, religion, nationality,
membership of a particular social group
or political opinion.”
“The European coastguards are
paying the Libyan coastguards to do this
on their behalf. We are refouling people
by proxy,” Woodhouse said.
For those that do arrive to their
destination countries, Woodhouse
explained they also face dangers there.
Some are taken to centers where they are
looked after, but many of them end up
on the streets with nothing.
“I read a letter from a young man in
Syria the other day and it was giving him
the date of his first official interview for
asylum in 2023. What is he going to do
until then? What is going to happen to
his life in that period of time? We know
that thousands and thousands of child
refugees have made it to Europe, but
Europe has lost over 20,000 of them,”
Woodhouse said. “Lots of people go
every missing in the sex trade, including
children. Lots of women get made into
prostitutes in Italy and throughout
Europe, and many men get put into
forced, illegal labor camps.”
Woodhouse emphasized that helping
people in their hour of need is a privilege,
but there’s always a next person.
“It’s really just an endless stream
of one incident after another, of really
traumatized people. I suppose it’s just
part of it, seeing the enormity of it.
Reflections
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The Sea-Watch crew and several guests pose together for a photo as they find out they will be allowed into port. Woodhouse explained there were hard
times behind them and hard times ahead, but this was a joyous moment. Doug Kuntz Photo

People talk about numbers of the people
that are coming and they talk about
statistics. When you get close to it, you
see these people are not just stati stics.
They are human beings and they each
have a story to tell,” Woodhouse said.
“None of the arguments matter to me,
because they are human beings drowning
in the sea. And if someone is drowning
in your sea, you should save them.”
With all that Woodhouse
encountered since the beginning of his
time volunteering, his biggest challenge
has been keeping a balance between
helping and having a normal life.
“Not many people can get it right. They
get involved and realize the enormity of
it and it’s easy to let it consume you,”
Woodhouse said. “My children know
that I do this, but ultimately, I’m not the
rescuer first. I am their dad first. We are
fighting for people to be able to live a
normal life, so we should be fighting to
live a normal life as well. We’ve all got
has the same fears, the same concerns. We
all bleed the same way and our hearts all
beat the exact same way.”
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Lassina Coulibaly, from Mali, and Lydia Witt sit with The Sewing Cooperative’s booth at the annual Christmas Market hosted by St. Paul’s Episcopal
Church in Rome. The table featured aprons, table runners, refugee bears, bags, jewelry holders and pillows, each hand-made by the tailors.
Abbey Little Photo

Stitching Together Community

L
ydia Witt, an American native from racism, discrimination and being treated
Ohio, worked for ten years as a as a second-class citizen instead of an
dressmaker for the New York City Ballet, individual
Broadway and NYU’s Tisch School for the While collecting testimonies from
Arts before moving to Rome as a Fulbright refugees at a mobile clinic in Rome during
Scholar to research the work integration research, she began noticing the need
of refugees in creative fields. for community and a sense of belonging.
“I was interested in global After realizing that many of those she
de velopment, supporting human rights met had tailoring backgrounds from
and in creating more equality in the their home countries, she was insp ired to
world, but I found that where I felt most begin a new business that would enable
confident was as a mediator between refugees a place to bridge their existing
refugees and host communities in the skills within the Italian workplace
United States and in Italy,” Witt said. realities and expectations. In 2017,
“Instead of going to another country Witt founded The Sewing Cooperative, a
to tell someone how to ‘develop,’ I small social business creating economic
think it is important to start with the opportunities for refugees with tailoring
communities around us and how we can and sewing backgrounds, while offering
open opportunities for individuals in custom, made to measure, hand -made
them.” products.
She explained some of the most The Sewing Cooperative clients come
dominant hardships refugees face in from all over the world, some living in
their new communities are the lack of the Roman community, while others
work opportunities - especially adequate visiting Rome find the business through
and meaningful training for their work - AirBnB Experience. Witt maintains the

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business side of things and oversees With a changing world, and one
each tailor to ensure each person is able that is full of diverse views, Witt stays
to have meaningful interactions with motivated to change the dialogue and
clients. stories surrounding refugees and the
“I facilitate and translate between skills they bring to society.
clients and tailors and manage all “I believe all people should be given
orders, production workflow, marketing a chance - and have the right – to excel,
and social media. Tasks are assigned to prosper and feel important and valued,
each tailor based on their skill levels,” no matter what their origin or culture
Witt said. “I try to create opportunities or skin color,” Witt said. “I fee l that
for the tailors to feel important, that the current systems we have in place do
their skills are validated and that they provide these things and I want to work
have the opportunity to see how a small towards them.”
atelier works in Italy.”

CLOCKWISE: Lassina Coulibaly prepares to make a quick stitch before a pop-up show at the Joel Nafuma Refugee Center monthly fundraising dinner.
The Sewing Cooperative holds pop-up shows around Rome, takes custom orders and offers an AirBnB experience. Abbey Little Photo; Malang visits
the Sewing Cooperative and helps thread new jewelry cases. Witt said he was the inspiration behind The Sewing Cooperative in 2015, sewing her a
dress that carried her through many “I don’t know what to wear!” moments. Lydia Witt Photo; Beautiful garments and fabrics are displayed. For
custom garments, each client chooses their own fabric. Lydia Witt Photo
 Annika
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-19-

Milisic-Stanley
Inspired by her grandmother who
was a refugee, Annika Milisic-Stanley
has served on and off in the humani-
tarian field since 1997. Moral responsi-
bility, interest and a belief that helping
people is the right thing to do has kept
her motivated to work alongside ref-
ugees and migrants. She has helped
shape futures and guided many to suc-
cess.
Her first job took her to Kenya,
where she worked in the refugee ser-
vices office at a local NGO. She recalled
a story that shaped her career:
“I worked with a Tutsi man mar-
ried to a Hutu woman from Rwanda in a
refugee camp. Their house was burned
down and they narrowly escaped with
their lives after months of threats from
other camp residents who were Hutu
extremists. I brought their case to the
head of UNHCR, took them into the
offices and demanded the boss act. He
did listen to me and sent the couple to
Nairobi for their own safety. Later, this
man wrote to me from Sweden where
he had been flown with his wife to be
resettled, and he thanked me for that
tiny action. In camps with hundreds of
thousands of people, it is very difficult
to be heard and stand out. In this way,
the privilege of access can make all the
difference, and having someone notice
you in the crowd, and help you, can save
your life.”
Milisic-Stanley now serves in Rome
as the Fundraising and Program Co-
ordinator of the Joel Nafuma Refugee
Center. Working at a smaller NGO level
has allowed her to be most creative and
make a larger impact as an individual
in the lives of those most see as ‘‘the
other.’’

Reflections
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“The historic moment

we are living in- the
strangers are seen as
dangerous and not as
people we can meet
and learn something
different. We are all
losing something
precious.
- Lavinia Celsan, Psychologist for Medici per i Diritti Umani