Problem Statement:

Uruguay is living a unique migration situation. A country which traditionally received immigrants from Argentina, Brasil, EEUU and Spain is now living a transformation of the migratory process, not in the number of people that the country receives but in the origin’s compositions.

The “new Latin American origins” are from Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, México, Paraguay, Perú, Cuba and Venezuela. A study of the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of the Republic demonstrates that 45% of the Uruguayans do not agree with receiving immigrants. This sector of the population argues that this “new people” are a threat in different fields, for example, they argue they cause loss of identity and loss of available jobs. For these reasons, discrimination between the locals and the migrant has risen the concept of “they against us".

 

 

Proposed Solution:

To avoid and mitigate this complex situation, the project “Gracias a vos” (thanks to you) looked to approach the migration diversity in Uruguay, remarking the advantages that immigrants bring to a country that was built by immigrants. The concept and the name of the project were transversal to different activities which looked to empathize and make aware of the importance of migration. It was built from a perspective of gratitude, optimism, join and inclusion. It aimed to integrate people who arrived in Uruguay years ago and are now grateful as Uruguayan people. The concept does not put immigrants in a lower place, as pity objects, it puts them as a subject with rights.

 

Target group:

This project aimed to produce a decreasing in the percentage of Uruguayans who are against immigration and subsequentially, increasing the number of Uruguayans who think immigration strength us.

 

Hub activities:

We develop different activities which looked to empathize and make aware of the importance of migration. Some of them were held during the 2018 Heritage Day celebrations in Montevideo.

• Artists from Pardos artistic collective were commissioned to create an awesome street art mural called "Gracias a vos" which was unveiled during the 2018 Heritage Day celebrations in Montevideo. The mural is located on the corner of Piedras and Juncal streets; a strategic location between the Museum of Migration and the Old City as the area of ​​residence of many immigrants.


• We all got inspired by an amazing postcard illustration on the theme of migration created by our Shaper @Sinay Medouze and  +1000 postcards were distributed for free during the 2018 Heritage Day celebrations.
  


• Attendees were invited to participate in a huge street crossword about migration that was co created using the street as a canvas.

 

 

Available metrics:

• 18 media appearances


• +1000 postcards distributed


• +2000 people attended 2018 Heritage Day celebrations in Montevideo

 

Collaborators:

Pardos (Artists), Municipio B (Municipality), Ministry of Labor and Social Security (Uruguay), Migration Museum (MUMI), Ministry of Education and Culture and Infantozzi Materiales.

 

This project has been completed: Start date JUN 2018 | End date: NOV 2018