Migrants project

On 21st November, our Vice- President Prof. Elena Flavia Castagnino Berlinghieri will organize a meeting in order to  speak about our “Migrants project“, already approved by the AGM 2015. The event will be hosted at the International Institute of Higher Studies in Criminal Sciences,  an Italian not-for-profit foundation (ONLUS) acknowledged by a Decree of the President of the Republic of Italy, dedicated to education, training and research in the fields of international and comparative criminal justice and human rights. For 40 years, ISISC has been a major contributor to the development of more effective criminal justice systems worldwide, and in the strengthening of respect for human rights and the Rule of Law.

The purpose of ‘Migrants project‘ is to create an evolving perspective on the human side of immigration, migration, refugees, asylum-seekers and social justice which is now particularly difficult to cope especially in the Sicilian context.

More than other countries in Europe, Sicily is facing a “biblical exodus” for people moving between Arab countries, Middle East and south Asia escaping from their own realms to reach Europe.

IOM (International Organization of Migration) reported that deaths of all migrants and refugees attempting to reach EU by sea in 2015 now total 2,373: most of them have drowned in overcrowded boats heading for the coasts of Italy. As crossroads in the middle of the Mediterranean, Sicily welcome women that had left their homes with their children in great haste, fleeing before the civil war in search of a future. Their husbands had stayed behind, either because they had joined the combat forces or because they had fallen victim to the bloody conflicts. For these women, the death of their menfolk means there can be no return to their previous lives, even after the war ends. Projects aimed at helping migrants are facing renewed political opposition in some countries. Even facing such an uncertain future, the refugee crisis shows no sign of abating.

The main aim of this proposal is giving women refugees in Sicily the hope of a brighter future and work opportunities by combining social, fashion and design on the art of tailoring, thanks to specially designed training.

To start the project we asked well-known fashion designer Loredana Roccasalva from Modica (Sicily), to create a special DRESS inspired by woman refugees and their stories. As sympathetic woman close to social issues, Loredana fully agree and crafted for us a stunning dress by using different fibers and patterns from all over the Mediterranean, she tailored a sort of mosaic-overcoat coupled with a pure-white silk dress with flowers evoking positive outlook and hope to reborn. Thanks to Agata Saccone, the Director of Taomoda Fashion Week, the “Migrantes” dress made his red carpet catwalk in the special setting of the Ancient Theater at Taormina on the 15 of July 2015 in front of thousands of people, with live music performed by Marco Massa. Fashion designer Loredana Roccasalva has created and donated to us the Migrantes Dress (as unique artwork), Director Agata Saccone invited as to one of the best fashion event in Italy supported by Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana.

By establishing one skills development LAB, which in the start-up phase will be leaded by fashion designer Loredana Roccasalva, we’ll provide a group of 15 women with full training in sewing, fashion design and embroidery skills, and we’ll distribute knowledge and sewing machines to the women of the center. The majority of women, between 18 and 50, are married, with children. For most women, the income they generate will support the entire family.