Refugees want empowerment, not handouts | Robert Hakiza

Translator: Natalia Kochanova Reviewer: Lucia Daubnerova

Currently, most refugees live in the cities

Momentálne väčšina utečencov žije v mestách

rather than in the refugee camps.

a nie v utečeneckých táboroch.

We represent over 60 percent

Predstavujeme viac ako 60 %

of the number of refugees globally.

z celkového počtu utečencov na svete.

With the majority of refugees living in urban areas,

Nakoľko väčšina utečencov žije v mestách,

there is a strong need for a paradigm shift and new thinking.

je veľmi potrebná zmena modelu a nový spôsob myslenia.

Rather than wasting money on building walls,

Lepšie, ako mrhať peniazmi na stavanie múrov,

it would be better to spend on programs

by bolo ich minúť na programy,

to help refugees to help themselves.

ktoré by pomohli utečencom pomôcť si sami.

(Applause)

(potlesk)

We always have to leave behind all our possessions.

My všetci musíme opustiť všetko, čo máme.

But not our skills and knowledge.

Nie však naše zručnosti a vedomosti.

If allowed to live a productive life,

Ak by mali utečenci možnosť viesť produktívny život,

refugees can help themselves

dokázali by si pomôcť sami

and contribute to the development of their host country.

a prispieť k rozvoju ich hostiteľskej krajiny.

I was born in the city called Bukavu,

Narodil som sa v meste Bukavu,

South Kivu,

v južnom Kivu,

in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

v Demokratickej republike Kongo.

I am the fifth-born in a family of 12 children.

Som v poradí 5. dieťa v rodine s 12 deťmi.

My father, a mechanic by profession,

Môj otec, profesiou mechanik,

worked very hard to send me to school.

pracoval veľmi tvrdo, aby ma mohol poslať študovať.

Just like other young people,

Rovnako ako iní mladí ľudia

I had a lot of plans and dreams.

som mal veľa plánov a snov.

I wanted to complete my studies,

Chcel som dokončiť štúdium,

get a nice job,

nájsť si dobrú prácu,

marry and have my own children

oženiť sa a mať deti

and support my family.

a postarať sa o rodinu.

But this didn't happen.

Ale to sa nestalo.

War in my homeland forced me to flee to Uganda in 2008,

Vojna v rodnej krajine ma prinútila utiecť do Ugandy v roku 2008,

nine years ago.

pred 9 rokmi.

My family joined a steady exodus of refugees

Moja rodina sa pridala k utečencom, ktorí nepretržite a hromadne unikali

who settled in Uganda's capital, Kampala.

a ktorí sa usadili v hlavnom meste Ugandy, Kampala.

In my country,

V mojej krajine

I lived already in the city,

som už predtým býval v meste,

and we felt Kampala was much better than a refugee camp.

a mali sme dojem, že v Kampale je oveľa lepšie ako v utečeneckom tábore.

Refugees in the cities

Utečencom v mestách

have always been denied international assistance,

bola vždy odopieraná medzinárodná pomoc,

even after their recognition by UNHCR in 1997.

a to aj po ich uznaní úradom UNHCR v roku 1997.

In addition to the poverty problem we were confronted with

Okrem problému chudoby, ktorému sme čelili

as the local urban poor,

rovnako ako miestni chudobní obyvatelia,

we were facing challenges due to our refugee status,

sme museli čeliť prekážkam vyplývajúcim z nášho postavenia utečencov,

such as a language barrier.

akou je napríklad jazyková bariéra.

In Congo, the official language is French.

V Kongu je oficiálnym jazykom francúzština.

But in Uganda, it is English.

V Ugande je to však angličtina.

We didn't have access to education and health.

Nemali sme nárok na vzdelanie a zdravotnú starostlivosť.

We were exposed to harassment,

Boli sme vystavovaní obťažovaniu,

exploitation, intimidation and discrimination.

vykorisťovaniu, zastrašovaniu a diskriminácii.

Humanitarian organizations mostly focused

Humanitárne organizácie sa zameriavali prevažne

on the formal settlement in rural areas,

na oficiálne tábory na vidieku,

and there was nothing in place for us.

kde pre nás nič nebolo.

But we didn't want handouts.

Ale my sme nechceli dávky.

We wanted to work and support ourselves.

Chceli sme pracovať a živiť sa sami.

I joined my other two colleagues in exile

Pripojil som sa k dvom kolegom v exile

and set up an organization to support other refugees.

a založili sme organizáciu na pomoc iným utečencom.

YARID -- Young African Refugees for Integral Development --

YARID, Mladí africkí utečenci za integrovaný rozvoj,

began as a conversation within the Congolese community.

začala len ako konverzácia v rámci konžskej komunity.

We asked the community

Opýtali sme sa členov komunity,

how they could organize themselves to solve these challenges.

ako by sa vedeli zorganizovať za účelom vyriešiť tieto problémy.

The YARID programs for support evolve in stages,

Programy YARIDu na pomoc sa vyvíjali po etapách

progressing from soccer community, to English language

postupujúc z futbalovej komunity cez anglický jazyk

to sewing livelihoods.

až k zabezpečeniu živobytia.

The soccer changed the energy

Futbal dal silu

of unemployed youth

mladým nezamestnaným

and connected people from different communities.

a spojil členov rôznych komunít.

The free English classes

Bezplatné hodiny angličtiny

help empower people to engage with the Ugandan community,

napomohli tomu, aby sa zapojili do ugandskej komunity,

allowing them to get to know their neighbors and sell wares.

čo im umožnilo spoznať susedov a predať tovar.

The vocational training program offers livelihood skills,

Program odbornej prípravy učí zručnostiam na zaobstaranie si živobytia a spolu

and with them, important opportunities for economic self-reliance.

s nimi prináša aj dôležité príležitosti na dosiahnutie ekonomickej sebestačnosti.

We've seen so many families

Videli sme mnoho rodín,

become self-sustaining.

ktoré sa stali sebestačnými.

We've seen who no longer needs our help.

Videli sme, kto už viac nepotrebuje pomoc.

As YARID's programs have expanded,

Ako sa programy YARIDu rozširovali,

it has included an increasing range of nationalities --

zamerali sa aj na iné národnosti:

Congolese, Rwandan, Burundian,

ľudí z Konga, Rwandy, Burundi,

Somalis, Ethiopian, South Sudanese.

Somálska, Etiópie, Južného Sudánu.

Today, YARID has supported over 3,000 refugees across Kampala

Dnes YARID pomohol už vyše 3 000 utečencom v Kampale

and continues supporting more.

a pokračuje v pomoci ďalším.

(Applause)

(potlesk)

Refugees want empowerment, not handouts.

Utečenci chcú viac možností, nie dávky.

We know our community better than anyone.

My poznáme naše komunity najlepšie.

We understand the challenges and opportunities we face

Rozumieme prekážkam a príležitostiam, ktorým musíme čeliť,

to become self-reliant.

aby sme sa stali sebestačnými.

I know better than anyone

Ja viem lepšie ako ktokoľvek iný,

that initiatives created by refugees work.

že iniciatívy utečencov fungujú.

They need to be internationally recognized and supported.

Potrebujú medzinárodné uznanie a podporu.

Give us the support we deserve,

Dajte nám podporu, ktorú si zaslúžime,

and we will pay you back with interest.

a my vám ju vrátime aj s úrokmi.

Thank you so much.

Ďakujem veľmi pekne.

(Applause)

(potlesk)