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4th Migrant and Refugee Fair of Angola
It was a day filled with joy and sharing, where the beauty of cultural diversity in Angola was clearly displayed through the presence of 27 different nationalities.
Distinguished guests included the President of CEPAMI (Episcopal Conference for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants of Angola), Mons. Zeferino Zeca Martins, SVD; the Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature of Angola and São Tomé, Fr. Christopher; and the Secretary of the Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development, Fr. Avelino Chico.
A highlight of this year’s fair was the Art Contest, where poems, songs, and artistic works showcased the creativity of the participants. The fair’s program was rich with dance performances, art exhibitions, traditional foods, parades, and gift raffles—including a Messi jersey donated by the Argentine Embassy. Media coverage included TPA and various community radio stations.
Members of the Migrant and Refugee Protection Network of Angola include: the Missionaries of the Divine Word, CEPAMI, Omunga Association, Scalabrinian Missionaries and Laypeople, Caritas Angola, Salesians of Don Bosco, JRS (Jesuit Refugee Service), UCAN (Catholic University of Angola), UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), Radio Ecclesia (Catholic radio station of Angola), the Episcopal Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, the Episcopal Commission for Social Communications, and VIS (Volontariato Internazionale per lo Sviluppo).
Our mission is to contribute to the protection of the rights of migrants and refugees and to raise awareness of their responsibilities and obligations. We aim to promote respect for creation, and for cultural and religious diversity. We advocate for the development and implementation of inclusive public policies for migrants and refugees, and we strive to strengthen the social work of organizations committed to the protection of these communities in Angola.
Our vision is for all migrants and refugees to be able to integrate both humanly and socially into Angolan society. Above all, the Migrant and Refugee Fair has been a space where we seek to give visibility to those who are often excluded from the labor, education, and healthcare systems. It is a space to highlight their talents, achievements, and capabilities. It hasn’t been easy, but we continue to give our very best. We believe that by working as a NETWORK, we can achieve far more than we could individually. United with the Word and His Mission.
Fr. Juan Pablo Gómez, SVD
