The Human Rights Directorate held a conference on Wednesday 5th August at the Palace Hotel, Sliema, entitled “What Two-Way-Integration Needs Are Cultural Mediators Responding To?” The Head of the Intercultural and Anti-Racism Unit, Mr Alexander Tortell, introduced the conference and the objectives behind it: to bring together various stakeholders to discuss their different needs for a cultural mediator as well as to raise awareness about the Diploma in Education for Cultural Mediation.
Representatives from the Migrant Health Liaison Office, the Migrant Learners’ Unit, Jobsplus, Identity Malta and AWAS raised important points on the difficulties that migrants face upon arriving to Malta. These include language, socio-cultural and red-tape barriers, as well as racism and discrimination. Therefore, the role of the cultural mediator is an important one to be able to guide the migrant throughout the integration process in Malta, be it in matters of residence, health, employment, education and housing, among others. An interactive session was then led by Dr Colin Calleja whereby the participants built the ideal profile of a cultural mediator.
While the aforementioned entities have interpreters and translators aiding migrants on the ground, they, nevertheless, accentuated the need for a concentrated effort. In fact, Dr Phyllisienne Vassallo Gauci presented the Diploma in Education for Cultural Mediation. This two-year Diploma seeks to encourage migrants to apply for this training and education to be able to have interculturally competent staff throughout different sectors of the government.
This conference was funded by the Asylum, Migrant and Integration Fund 2014-2020.
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Agenda
Mr. Alexander Tortell – Head of the Intercultural and Anti-Racism Unit –
Introduction to “What Two-Way-Integration Needs Are Cultural Mediators Responding To?”
Dr. Phyllisienne Vassallo Gauci – Diploma in Education for Cultural Mediation
Ms. Marika Podda Connor – Practice Nurse, Migrant d Liaison Office, Health-Primary Health Care –
Cultural Mediators in the Health Services
Ms. Jane Farrugia Buhagiar – Education Officer, Migrant Learners’ Unit, MEDE –
The Role of the Community Liaison Workers within the LLAPSI + Project – MEDE
Ms. Nicola Cini – Department Manager, Employment Services Division, Jobsplus –
Jobsplus Needs vis-à-vis Cultural Mediators
