“Stay, Immigrant.” This is the name of the new project aimed at immigrants living in Portugal. “It is a digital platform with practical information for immigrant people in Portugal: rights, paths, documents, networks and resources”, describes the first post of the initiative.
The objective is “transforming real doubts and emergencies into organized information, practical guidance, access to support networks and autonomy in everyday life”. “Stay, Immigrant” is promoted by Instituto UM, the first think-and-do tank in Portugal, created by Heitor Arielle Sensi and Heitor Cavalcanti de Albuquerque, both immigrants.
The official launch will be on January 12th, at Fábrica Braço de Prata. In fact, it was there that the project was born. According to João Inneco, cultural producer at the space, the initial idea was to create an immigrant pocket guide, an updated version of the document that he and Heitor had created in 2018.
The idea was taken to LAB Imigrante, one of the events that are part of Segunda Baderna, which always takes place on Mondays at Fábrica Braço de Prata. During the conversations, it became clear that a pocket guide would not cover the current reality in Portugal.
“The meeting unveiled a new path, bigger, digital, a campaign, not just an object, but in fact a more contemporary usability tool”, João tells DN Brazil. The immigrant, who has been in Portugal for more than six years, believes that this is the time, as he feels “a social climate of hostility and intolerance”.
Recent constant changes in legislation also motivated the initiative. “Legal, legislative and bureaucratic issues make us deeply vulnerable; it is a moment of vulnerability, fear, isolation”, he reports. Meetings on Mondays also emerged as a space for welcome, reflection and fun.
When the site launches, people will find informative guides about changes to the law and ways to obtain accessible or free legal and psychological support. The project is looking for volunteers for these services.
In addition to a digital platform, the objective is for “Fica, Imigrante” to also occupy the public space, with integration and awareness actions. “Who is interested in demobilization? We are interested in mobilizing people”, reinforces the cultural producer.