Sensible phrases from Sister Rosita, age 79: A math lover wins U.N. prize for refugee reduction

When she was a scholar, Rosita Milesi wished to turn out to be a math instructor — she was at all times good on the topic, she remembers.

It didn’t prove that manner – for which refugees are eternally grateful. At age 19, she turned a Catholic nun. Now, at age 79, she is being acknowledged as certainly one of Brazil’s most influential refugee advocates.

This week, she was honored with the U.N. Refugee Agency’s Nansen Refugee Award for 40 years of activism. The U.N. calls her a “formidable refugee champion.” Venezuelan refugee, Elizabeth Tanare, described her to the U.N. because the “piece of the puzzle that brings everything together.“

The award is a testomony to her life’s work. In 1999, Sister Rosita – who can be a lawyer — based Brazil’s Migration and Human Proper’s Institute (IMDH), which she nonetheless oversees. According to the U.N., over the past 40 years, she and her workforce have helped almost 800,000 refugees from 168 nations entry authorized providers, well being care, housing, and work alternatives in Brazil. And he or she says a part of the explanation for her success has to do along with her early love of math!

NPR spoke to Sister Rosita in Geneva, the place she accepted the award in a ceremony on October 14th, by way of Skype. The interview has been translated from Portuguese to English and has been edited for size and readability.

What does this award imply to you?

To me, the Nansen award comes with an important duty to replicate on who Nansen was and what meaning.

Fridtjof Nansen of Norway was a scientist, polar explorer, diplomat, Nobel peace prize laureate and first Excessive Commissioner for Refugees for the League of Nations.

These are massive footsteps to comply with in.

Is that this an honor? Sure. However on the identical time, it is a recognition of all of the individuals who helped me, who participated in my journey — particularly the refugees that I had the chance to help and accompany and who’ve at all times taught me classes of hope and religion that fueled my very own journey.

What are some life classes you’ve discovered via your activism?

I’ve been residing this mission for a few years and have discovered so much. Every particular person is exclusive. Each human being is exclusive. So it’s important to] take note of the particularities that every particular person expresses. Lively listening is crucial. I can inform you that I’ve sought to study this, as a result of I’ve at all times been an individual with fast responses. And that’s not at all times one of the simplest ways. Listening is commonly extra vital than responding. We study essentially the most once we hear with our coronary heart and with care to the story that every refugee has lived and resides once we meet them.

Our weblog writes so much about international well being. How do you see well being – each bodily and psychological – as a difficulty in your activism?

In Brazil, we’ve got a common health-care system which everybody has entry to. It doesn’t matter if they’re Brazilian or from one other nation or if they’re documented or not – everybody has entry to the common health-care system. It is a nice profit. Nevertheless, on the identical time, there are nonetheless many limitations – particularly in psychological well being care. Most refugees undergo huge emotional or psychiatric penalties due to how tough it’s to navigate the trail in quest of a rustic that can welcome them. It’s vital that we strengthen [access to] each bodily well being and psychological well being providers so that folks can, not less than partially, overcome the trauma of compelled migration, conflict, starvation and every part they went via to seek out refuge overseas.

Have you ever ever felt dismissed or not regarded with respect due to your age?

No, quite the opposite, I believe that my age offers me a bonus. I believe that the belief individuals have in me usually comes from realizing the years I’ve already lived. And I really feel nice pleasure when youngsters who don’t even know me come as much as me and name me “grandma.’ For me, my age is a constructive component that encourages me to proceed and to move on [my knowledge].

How do individuals react to your being a nun?

I’m already well-known as ‘Sister Rosita.’ However some cultures have no idea what the “sister” title actually means. Generally individuals ask me the place my husband is or what number of youngsters I’ve. However thank God I’ve at all times been in a position to welcome all individuals equally unbiased of faith, tradition, or sexual orientation. I at all times attempt to welcome them. And due to that I believe individuals really feel extra comfy round me despite the fact that I’m a nun.

The world is clearly failing to take care of refugees – the U.N. repeatedly requires extra funding for such efforts. If you happen to had 3 needs to make issues higher, what would they be?

My first want can be for border management to not be about authorized or judicial management of the border however reasonably to at all times embrace social work help to provide individuals in want the eye they deserve.

The second want can be for nations around the globe to turn out to be extra prepared to welcome and combine refugees into their communities. And for these communities to have fun their new members for enriching their setting and permitting them to develop interculturally.

The third want can be for clear and efficient refugee integration packages. What refugees want most is a chance for efficient integration, the place they’ll take every part that they’ve already discovered in life and thru their journeys and use it of their new communities. And I want for his or her items and skills to be acknowledged to allow them to really feel fulfilled and rebuild their very own lives within the nations they arrive to.

Do you might have any phrases of recommendation to younger refugee activists?

I need them to know that this a incredible path to non-public success.

What does this new technology of activists carry to the trigger?

Younger persons are very vigorous, very inventive. After they become involved, these of us who’re older than them simply should have fun their youthful dynamism and enthusiasm. However above all, [I want them to know] that their generosity and pursuit of humanitarian causes is a superb deed. The refugees might be in nice fingers with younger activists who’re utilizing their enthusiasm and pleasure towards these causes.

I heard that whenever you have been youthful you wished to turn out to be a math instructor. Does math play any function in your life at the moment?

I used to be by no means good at historical past, however I used to be nice at math. I used to be by no means in a position to turn out to be a math instructor however I believe this aspect comes out in me within the objectivity with which I conduct myself. In a manner, it is vitally constructive — I discover it very straightforward to comply with administrative processes and I really feel assured operating the establishments I at present run. And math can be current within the objectivity and pace with which I make my choices. So despite the fact that I didn’t pursue educating, these traits are nonetheless in me and so they assist me. However I additionally should be very cautious to not be too goal or fast in my responses and to actually make sure that I’m listening fastidiously earlier than saying one thing. It’s one thing I at all times want to pay attention to and domesticate in my relationship with individuals.

Is there any message you wish to share with the world?

I believe our society nonetheless actually lacks the flexibility to see the constructive impression of individuals migrating from different nations to our territories. There’s a quote from a Brazilian singer that claims, “refugees arrive with few belongings however with many abilities.” If society may change their perspective and worth, welcome, and supply alternatives for refugees to place their items, abilities, expertise, and coaching to work, so much may change for the higher — each for the refugees and the communities that welcome them.