Inter Diaspora Meeting
Rome, 28 November 2008
DIAS DE Cabo Verde - Diaspora for the Development of Cape VerdeRome, 28 November 2008
Diaspora needs and resources
Moderator: Clara Silva, University of Florence
The second meeting session was chaired by Clara Silva, a Cape Verdean researcher working at the University of Florence, and was exclusively dedicated to the Diaspora: representatives of Diaspora associations of the three target countries illustrated their experiences, the obstacles met and successes achieved in the host countries, as well as their views as actors for the development of Cape Verde.
This session was opened by the presentation of a study elaborated by Ms. Maria Silva on features of the Cape Verdean community in Italy, copy of which is attached to this document.
should entail the rehabilitation of 10 houses and the creation of a youth meeting centre.
Tabanka is also engaged in cultural promotion events (theatre plays, exhibitions, presentation of books, participation in the Intermundia fair) not only in Rome but on the whole Italian territory, in partnership with several Italian institutions.
Mr. Canifa further emphasized the effort of his association for the involvement of the youth in its activities, with the participation of members of other associations, too, in initiatives such as the theatre play focused on
the hunger in Cape Verde in 1940s, and the cultural exchange travels between young people in Niger, Congo, the Netherlands and Portugal.
Finally Mr. Canifa presented his congratulations for the project DIAS DE Cabo Verde as a long awaited chance for the youth to contribute to the development of their country of origin.
This session was opened by the presentation of a study elaborated by Ms. Maria Silva on features of the Cape Verdean community in Italy, copy of which is attached to this document.
The Italian experience
Jorge Canifa, Tabanka Association
Mr. Jorge Canifa, president of the Association Tabanka Onlus, which is also partner of the project DIAS DE Cabo Verde, presented the experience of a Diaspora association in Italy. His intervention illustrated the activities of Tabanka in the field of development cooperation, directed not only to Cape Verde but also to other countries such as Angola and São Tome, in which a significant population of Cape Verdeans live in difficult conditions. Tabanka projects were carried out in partnership with the Instituto das Comunidades, the European Union and several Italian and Cape Verdean institutions. Tabanka has also submitted a new project for funding, which is currently facing the evaluation process; the project, which would be carried out together with IOM, the Instituto das Comunidades and the Municipality of Ribeira Brava in Sao Nicolau,Jorge Canifa, Tabanka Association
should entail the rehabilitation of 10 houses and the creation of a youth meeting centre.
Tabanka is also engaged in cultural promotion events (theatre plays, exhibitions, presentation of books, participation in the Intermundia fair) not only in Rome but on the whole Italian territory, in partnership with several Italian institutions.
Mr. Canifa further emphasized the effort of his association for the involvement of the youth in its activities, with the participation of members of other associations, too, in initiatives such as the theatre play focused on
the hunger in Cape Verde in 1940s, and the cultural exchange travels between young people in Niger, Congo, the Netherlands and Portugal.
Finally Mr. Canifa presented his congratulations for the project DIAS DE Cabo Verde as a long awaited chance for the youth to contribute to the development of their country of origin.
