Global Diaspora Day 2016
African Update – 20/06/16
The MADE Working Group on Diaspora and Migrants in Development is excited to announce the launch of the first ever Global Diaspora Day! Our call for submissions generated over 80 articles, case studies, photos and videos from all over the world. We are pleased to share with you all the selected and inspiring stories, learning tools and initiatives today!
Global Diaspora Day (GDD16) is an online event that showcases articles, case-studies and media material highlighting Migrants’ and Diaspora’s contribution to development in their countries of origin and residence, in particular in the areas of job creation, enterprise and investment. Contributions also included counter-xenophobia initiatives. Multifarious contributions Contributions reflected North-South migration flows and experiences but also some South-South flows and experiences such as South Africa/Somalia, Chile/Venezuela, The Gulf/Bangladesh.
- Abdihakim Ainte, a contributor to GDD16, and a former policy advisor, Office of Somalia Diaspora (ODA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Somalia, gives an example of one such contribution: ‘It is diaspora figures like Sadia, a hot sauce entrepreneur who moved to the US in 1999, whose investments are keeping Somalia’s economy alive. Sadia gave 10% of her proceeds for aid during the Somali famine. ... from Nairobi to Dubai via London, Melbourne or Cape Town, you can find small Somali shops, a business mentality which has earned Somalis the reputation of entrepreneurial nomads.’
- Meanwhile, Tina Magazzini, a contributor to the ‘Beyond Xenophobia’ theme, and a researcher at the Universities of Deusto and Sussex, shares a video about how stereotypes are not creative:‘Negative connotations of minorities do not seem to change over the centuries; what changes is the scapegoat community.’
All selected submissions have been published on the Global Diaspora Day web page. Videos are also be available on the MADE Network YouTube-Channel. Some GDD16 materials are also available as part of a social media promotion until Thursday 30 June, 2016; as a Facebook event, for a virtual discussion platform; and as tweets with the #GlobalDiasporaDay. Follow us, join in the discussions, comment and share your own initiatives! Let’s turn Global Diaspora Day into a virtual platform for fruitful discussions about how we promote positive diaspora and migrant narratives!
Participation in MADE is open to all who share its mission. It includes channels to exchange information, mobilise advocacy and policy-building strategies, as well as participate in a range of regional, thematic and international meetings and actions. MADE activities are currently coordinated by seven civil society organizations and networks in Asia (Migrant Forum in Asia), Africa (Caritas Senegal), the Americas (Fundación Scalabrini with assistance from the Scalabrini International Migration Network and International Network for Migration and Development) and Europe (AFFORD UK, Cordaid and ICMC Europe). The International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC) acts as the global Coordinating Office for MADE and the GFMD Civil Society Days. Find out more on the MADE network website. By clicking on the 'update your contact preferences' button below you can update contact details, manage your subscription preferences and sign up for specific regional or thematic updates.
