SIMI carries out researchand training projects in accordance with its statutory objectives. The projects that are currently undergoing are detailed below.
Transcode Programme
The program “Transnational Synergy and Cooperation for Development” (Transcode) is a joint initiative of the Scalabrini Migration Center (Philippines), the Radboud University (Netherlands) and SIMI. This program aims at promoting development projects jointly prepared by transnational associations of migrants, institutions and other actors in the Netherlands, the Philippines, Ghana and Italy. The program was developed in a series of four workshops, involving multiple stakeholders of the nexus between migration and development, in the Philippines (June 2010), the Netherlands (October 2010), Ghana (January 2012) and in Italy (April 2012).
In order to give greater institutional ground to the programme, in 2013 a Steering Committee (Directive Board) was set up with representatives of the four countries involved. This committee meets regularly on line to continue the reflection in order to better define the conceptual framework for an effective transnational development. In addition, members of the Committee, together with the central secretariat, provide direct assistance for the preparation of development projects to all members of the Transcode programme.
Considering the need to give more institutional visibility to the programme, in 2014 the Transcode Foundation was erected, based in the Netherlands. Through it projects proposals developed by members of the Transcode programme were presented to funding agencies to ensure the co-financing necessary to implement the same projects. A new project proposal concerning at distance learning on the design of transnational development projects is to be submitted soon, addressing leaders and members of migrant associations and NGOs based in the countries targeted by the program.
For more information, visit the web page of the program: Transcode webpage
Digital Library on Migration Theology
In order to ensure that people in all regions of the world have the opportunity of free access to bibliographic resources in the theology of human mobility, the Scalabrini International Migration Institute (SIMI), in collaboration with the Centro de Estudos Migratorios and the Theological Institute of São Paulo, is building a Digital Library on Theology of Migration (DLMT), with online access. Interested readers will only have to send a registration request to gain access to the entire collection. Registration will be free, but the secretary of SIMI will evaluate each request before granting access to DLMT.
The work, which began in January 2014, is completing its first phase, which includes the digitization and the upload in the database of more than 3000 texts of articles, book chapters and entire books, in 6 different languages (Italian, Portuguese, French, Spanish , English and German), chosen from the world literature on theology of human mobility. Soon it will be possible to consult the texts that have already been uploaded, search by author, title, keywords and individual words in six languages. Access to the platform will be granted from this website.
SIMI-PUG Study Group
In 2014 the study group SIMI-PUG was established. It is a joint initiative of SIMI and the Pontifical Gregorian University (PUG), which aims to study certain relevant topics linked to the phenomenon of human mobility. The study group is currently composed of four professors of SIMI and three professors of PUG, who meet quarterly. The group is composed by René Micallef and Gioacchino Campese (theologians), Fabio Baggio (historian), René Manenti and Carlotta Venturi (sociologists), Alessandra Ciurlo (anthropologist) and Aldo Skoda (psychologist).
For 2015, the group has proposed to deal with the issue of irregular migration. This is why each member of the group have committed to prepare a specific contribution, according to the personal skills, and present it in one of the four annual meetings. The methodology adopted for this year is that of writeshop, according to which each author sends the draft before the meeting; the other members prepare their comments and then present them during the meeting. The author notes the sbservations and suggestions for improving its production with a view to final publication.
For 2016, the study group is organizing an event to disseminate the results of the reflection on irregular migration with the participation of professors and students of the two universities involved.
Simposia on Migration and Religion
Based on a Memorandum of Undestanding between SIMI and the Pontifical Catholic University (PUC) of São Paulo (Brazil), a program of international symposia on the topic “Migration and Religion” (Symposium Internacional Religião and Migração) was initatied. The goal of this initiative is to promote scientific and interdisciplinary research (humanities and social sciences, philosophy and theology) on the link between migration and religion and to disseminate the results of this research through public events aimed at professors, graduate students and professionals in the field of human mobility. The symposia are celebrated annually according to a program jointly organized by SIMI and PUC of São Paulo.
The first symposium was held in São Paulo on 8-10 June 2015 and its theme was: “Human Mobility and religious identities” (Mobilidade humana and Identidades religiosas). The event was held in the Monte Alegre Campus of the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo and was organized jointly by the Programme of Postgraduate Studies in Science of Religion of the same university, SIMI and Centro de Estudos Migratorios (CEM) of the Scalabrinian missionaries. The various sessions have seen a succession of professors and international experts. Over 200 people attended the two and a half days of the symposium. Moreover several thousands of listeners followed the conference via web radio (RadioMigrantes). The proceedings are being published.
The next symposium will take place in São Paulo from 6 to 8 June 2016. It will focus on the religiosity of African diaspora.
Conference on Theology of Human Mobility Africa
The phenomenon of human mobility in Africa is posing new and urgent challenges to the Church in Africa. Nobody can remain indifferent to the exodus of millions of people fleeing poverty and conflicts in search of shelter and survival or in another African country or in another continent. Faced with these challanges, the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and the Association of Episcopal Conferences of the Region of Central Africa (ACERAC), in collaboration with the SIMI and the International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC), decided to organize an international conference on Theology of Human Mobility in Africa, to be held in Brazzaville (Republic of Congo), at the headquarters of ACERAC from 20 to 23 January 2016.
The conference aims at promoting theological-pastoral reflection of African professors and experts on economic and forced migration in Africa, starting from what the humanities and social sciences have been able to catch up to today. This reflection wants to inspire and inform the pastoral responses of the Church in Africa at the local, regional and continental levels. For this purpose, they were directly involved African theologians and researchers, who have been tasked to examine in particular the economic and forced migrations, which shape the scenario of migration of the African continent. Concerning the former, the objective is to deepen the link between economic migration and sustainable local development. Regarding the latter, the goal is to identify the root causes and assess the feasibility of transnational responses.
The conference program includes the presentation of contributions prepared ad hoc and moments of reflection group aimed at identifying common operational strategies. The conference proceedings will be published for wider dissemination of the results.