Workshops For Island’s ‘Fear Of Black People’

The Voice UK
Thursday, March 14, 2013

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IRRATIONAL FEAR of black people on the Mediterranean island of Malta is a problem one man from Somalia has decided to combat through intercultural workshops.

28-year-old Abdulahi Hassan, originally from Somalia’s capital city Mogadishu, lives in Malta and has witnessed how the natives’ fear can manifest itself in everyday situations.

In order to shift perceptions and change attitudes, Hassan has taken advantage of the work of two local NGOs which established the intercultural workshops to work with young people and students.

“Some Maltese people think black people are dangerous, and unfriendly, and this project was an opportunity I had to jump on. Through these workshops I’m doing my part for a better community,” he told The Sunday Times.

“I’ve seen fear at public places – buses, shops and in my neighbourhood. Some Maltese do not know why we’re here, who we are... all they know about are the wars covered by the media.

“They think all Africans are the same. It’s true, there are some bad people in Africa – but you find bad people across the world.”

The workshops are part of a one-year project called Youth Upbeat – it comprises 24 interactive workshops featuring 10 cultural ambassadors of refugee status, and also offers the chance for participants to experience African households, music, and food.

It is being partly funded by the European Refugee Fund, and has been organised by NGOs SOS Malta and Aġenzija Żgħażagħ.

Hassan acknowledged the problems of racism and xenophobia will not easily disappear from Maltese society, but remained hopeful younger generations would be more open in their outlook on different cultures.
“Nowadays people seem to understand us better, probably because they meet other refugees during their everyday chores”, he added.

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