CULTURAL MEDIATION FOR IMMIGRANTS

CULTURAL MEDIATION FOR IMMIGRANTS

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​SOCIAL INCLUSION

CULTURAL MEDIATION FOR IMMIGRANTS

Cultural mediators are bilingual professionals who mediate between individuals who speak different languages and who belong to different cultures.

CULTURAL MEDIATORS

While most countries have developed accredited, certified interpreting services to facilitate communication between migrants populations and public service providers, in Italy there are no professional registers or specific regulations for the profession, although different Italian universities offer a Master's Degree in Cultural Mediation.

INTERPRETING SERVICES

​A mediator is expert in both the local language and other languages and has a solid background in cultural competence.
The role of cultural mediators is helping the communication between immigrants and public institutions.
They have to interpret the rules, regulations, instruction and recommendations from public institutions, service providers, schools, etc. For example, they mediate between the school and the families.

LINKS BETWEEN THE LOCAL CULTURE AND THE MIGRANT'S CULTURE

Cultural mediators also:

• promote social inclusion - They are often adult immigrants trained to act as representative of their own culture in schools, day care centres and educational institutions.

• bridge the differences between people from various cultures

• facilitate a good level of understanding and initiating a comfortable level of conversation with the students and families who speak other languages.

• serve as a connecting link between the local culture and the migrant's culture

  
  
  
  

OTHER TASKS OF THE CULTURAL MEDIATOR:

• They convey details to the school authorities about the family's background, history and dynamics.

• operate in the healthcare sector, they mediate between doctors and patients.

• or in case of asylum seekers

• support immigrants by informing them of the country's legislations and their rights.
  
  
  

Multiple Choice

In Italy, cultural mediation is ..................

• an accredited profession

• a career path in some Italian Universities

• regulated by a professional register

Multiple Choice

Mediator's ........................ people's needs

• interpret

• act on behalf of

• solve

Multiple Choice

Cultural mediators are ............... immigrants.

• always

• usually

• in most cases

Multiple Choice

The mediator has good ...............

• cultural competence

• communicative competence

• social competence

Multiple Choice

The mediator conveys details about ..................

• student's families

• educational institutions

• students' doubts

ITALY

​ASYLUM SEEKERS

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The asylum procedure in Italy

According to Italian law, there is no formal timeframe for making an asylum application.
In fact, the intention to make an asylum application can also be expressed orally by asylum seekers in their own language with the assistance of a cultural mediator.
However, asylum seekers should make their application as soon as possible.
Immigration legislation prescribes, as a general rule, a deadline of 8 days from arrival in Italy for migrants to present themselves to the authorities

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HOW TO APPLY

• The asylum application can be made either at the Border Immigration Police Office or at the provincial Immigration Office of the Police, where fingerprints and photographing are carried out.
  
  

​WHO DECIDES
After reporting, the application, the formal registration and the documents concerning the application are sent to the Territorial Commissions, which through the provincial Immigration Office, inform the seeker of the date of a formal interview.

• ​A member of the Territorial Commission interviews the asylum seeker within 30 days upon receipt of the application and the Commission has to take a decision in the following 3 working days.

• The decision is taken following a panel discussion between all the members of the Commission. When the commission is unable to take a decision in this time limit, the examination procedure is concluded within 6 months from the reporting of the application.

​APPEAL
Asylum seeker can appeal against a negative decision issued by the Territorial Commission within 30 days before the competent Civil Court.

Multiple Choice

The asylum procedure in Italy involves that ....

• Asylum seekers can not make any asylum application.

• Immigration legislation prescribes, as a general rule, a deadline of 8 days from arrival in Italy for migrants to present themselves to the authorities

Multiple Choice

• The asylum application can be made ........................

• at the Border Immigration Police Office or at the Provincial Immigration Office of the Police

• at the Territorial Commission

Multiple Choice

When does a member of the Territorial Commission interview the asylum seeker?

• Via a written questionnaire
• After the initial interview conducted by the Border Police.
• Before the asylum seeker arrives at the border

Multiple Choice

What happens if the Commission fails to make a decision within the time limit?

• The decision is postponed indefinitely.
• It must be made within six months

• The decision is sent to a higher authority for review.
• The decision is automatically rejected.

​Roleplay the situation in pairs
Student A
You are Leila and want to apply for asylum.
Look at the form and ask the policeman\woman's questions.
Student B
You are a policeman\woman and need to ask Leila questions about her identity.
Write down your questions and then ask them.

​ Application for Political	Asylum​
​Surname:	​Said
​Name:	​Leila
​Place of birth:	​Damascus, Syria
​Date of birth:	​12th May, 2001
​Document No:	​AD20347