An inflatable appendage to stabilize the approach of rescue vessels that come into contact with migrant dinghies, while simultaneously facilitating the transfer of people from one vessel to another; a new and practical tool for recovering those who may have fallen overboard; and four kits to address immediate needs in terms of shelter, food, and rest. These are some of the solutions proposed by the students participating in recent design workshops at the University of the Republic of San Marino for the Mediterranea Saving Humans vessel Mare Jonio. The projects, which address both the recovery of migrants at sea and their stay on the vessel, also include two solutions to renovate the areas where migrants are welcomed, cared for, and housed once on board, replacing the current containers.
Presented last Saturday, the results of the workshop coordinated by designer Alessio Abdolahian, tutor Benedetta Ferri, and under the direction of instructor Riccardo Varini are the fruit of a full-immersion workshop that involved 25 students from Monday, July 8th to Saturday, July 13th. The workshop involved 11 working groups: eight for the development of projects, two focused on a social media campaign to share their work and raise awareness on the topic, and one for research. On the first day of the workshop, the designers and students met with Giulia Mezzi of Mediterranea Saving Humans, who visited the Titan to discuss the approaches, risks, spirit, and needs related to the Mare Jonio ship and its operations.
The initiative is part of the "San Marino Design Workshop," a summer program organized by the University of San Marino since 2006, featuring eight workshops related at various levels to sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda, an action program for people, the planet, and prosperity signed in 2015 by 193 UN countries.
"With the help of Giulia Sezzi, a Mediterranea volunteer, we addressed the initial phase of the project, addressing the problems experienced by those living on Mare Jonio and the migrants hosted there," explains Abdolahian. "We then moved on to research into the migrants' journey from Africa to Italy, attempting to reconstruct a broader context than that of a simple rescue. This study and in-depth analysis allowed us to develop practical solutions to address some of the issues that emerged. Among the projects, those involving the redesign of the Mare Jonio bridge would replace the current containers, which offer limited space for relocating as needed. Temperatures also need to be addressed: very hot during the day, the opposite at night. One of the ideas proposed involves an open, ventilated structure with modular walls. This is also because the containers remind migrants of the vehicles used to cross the desert. Our goal, however, is to restore dignity to the initial reception."
"The richness and complexity of regional contexts in Africa and the Middle East, and the current migration to Europe, raise profound questions about our ability to be human, more than citizens of rich, strong, and powerful places or sedentary communities," explains Varini, professor of Design at the University of San Marino. "This," he continues, "urges personal and incisive responses to our knowledge and the need to act positively towards the fragility of individuals or communities forced into economic, political, social, or environmental nomadism. I believe it is formative, for our students and for a school that designs future visions like ours, to engage with real-life issues such as rescue, reception, rejection, and refoulement. We believe that the sea should always represent a source of unity, exchange, and balanced and reciprocal sharing. The development of a designer's civic conscience requires rejecting superficial, facile, and opportunistic visions, as well as extolling the value of differences. It must guide the search for thoughtful proposals toward a better existence for all."
