Young refugees set up NGO for access to education and jobs

The struggle to access education and employment has sparked the creation of the first  Maltese NGO geared to empower young refugees and migrants to actively participate in achieving a more inclusive society.

Spark 15, which is being supported by the President’s Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, is being officially inaugurated by Her Excellency President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca at San Anton Palace tomorrow, March 17.

“The common challenges we face as young refugees and migrants to fully integrate in Maltese society united us to work towards full integration with the community,” Spark 15 president Hourie Tafech said.

The name Spark 15 was coined because the NGO is made up of 15 refugee and migrant founding members aged 15 to 30, who are determined to prove that a small spark can trigger a big change.

“The biggest struggles we continuously face are racism, discrimination, lack of access to education, and difficulties in finding jobs, among many others. These are the issues we plan to target to ensure greater diversity,” Ms Tafech said.

“We are looking forward to helping young migrants achieve full access to their rights through dialogue,” she added.

The idea was born after following the UNHCR Global Youth Consultation in 2015. The refugee agency has since stepped in to offer capacity building support for the young refugee-led organisation, and has funded a video highlighting the challenges they face, which will be released during tomorrow’s inauguration ceremony.

The video features the founding members sharing their dreams, which often remain just that — from the young girl who is a promising basketball player but has been banned from playing because of her hijab, to the youngster who is half-Russian half-Libyan who failed to land the job when he decided to use his Arab surname.

“UNHCR hopes that Spark 15 can continue to grow, promote and facilitate youth refugee protection and integration in Malta,” UNHCR public information assistant Sarah Mallia said.