A book collecting the autobiographies and written memoirs featured in the 2018 edition of "DIMMI di Storie Migranti," a project that included a national literary competition with the participation of the Emigration Research Center of the University of the Republic of San Marino, to bring readers a series of experiences written by contemporary migrants. This was presented today, Tuesday, September 10, to Their Excellencies the Captains Regent Nicola Selva and Michele Muratori during an audience at Palazzo Pubblico that brought together figures such as the Director of the Research Center, Patrizia Di Luca, the Director General of the University, Isabella Bizzocchi, the Deputy Official of the Italian Embassy in San Marino, Claudia Amerini, the Secretary of State for Education and Culture, Marco Podeschi, and Massimiliano Bruni of the National Diary Archives of Pieve Santo Stefano, one of the main organizers of the initiative. Supporting the project was provided, among others, by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
The volume, titled "If the Sea Ends – Eleven Migrant Stories," is published by Terre di Mezzo and offers an opportunity to explore the experiences of those who embark on the migration journey: "This book allows us to hear, through the narrative voices of the protagonists, the motivations, fears, and hopes that accompany contemporary migration experiences," explains di Luca. In its pages, we meet Madassa Traore, a native of Mali who is aware of the risks of crossing the Mediterranean. In his story, he writes: 'I considered that journey suicidal, but here I am, facing this journey I have always hated.' There are the stories of young women like Ametula Mohamed Ahmed, from Ethiopia, who longed for a job, not assistance. Loredana Damian, from Romania. Fernanda Gonzales, born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Clementine Pacmogda, who arrived in Italy from the Ivory Coast on a research grant from the La Normale University of Pisa. Rjikard, a young gay man from Cameroon fleeing violent discrimination. Karamoko Fofana, who instead flees the Ivory Coast, ravaged by civil war. Franky Kuete, born in Cameroon. Bakay Jobe, from Gambia. Thierno Sadou Sow, who left Guinea at the age of 10 and arrived in Italy alone three years later. Their words. They lead us through very difficult experiences that are important to listen to and understand because they demonstrate the groundlessness of many commonplaces present today."
The DIMMI project, which in 2018 saw the participation of 57 men, 11 women, and 20 minors of both sexes from four different continents, has as its primary goal the promotion of dialogue between citizens of diverse origins, to build relationships based on mutual respect and the awareness of all being bearers of equal dignity.
