There are many realities I could show, but personal experience and the lame manipulation far right does of this topic has made me interested in unaccompanied minors. This could happen in any of our big and not that big towns. And what I explain, is not a memory of what happened more than 2000 years ago, but an acknowledgment of what happens daily in our cities.
Here is the video and narration on the manger (with subtitles in various languages). Under, you can find the whole text, complementary information and photos.
Joseph and Mary were in the group of migrants. They got to know each other on the way and they decided to do the last bit of trip in the same boat. They loved each other and wanted to walk forward together.
At midnight, the boat was sinking and they called Helena Maleno for help. Almeria’s Maritime Rescue, thanks to the notification, rescued everybody before sunrise.
When they arrived to port, they were recognized by health professionals and sent in buses to other cities.
Very late in the night, when they got out of the bus, some volunteers greeted them spontaneously. As they were not yet 18 years old, they were directed to the SAIER and from there to a minor center. Mary was already pregnant when she got to the center.
They asked to be together so they could share her pregnancy, but there weren’t any gender mixed centers. They were just about to become 18 and they decided to escape so they could meet each other again. When they got to the city they looked for institutions and places to stay, but they didn’t know where to go nor they knew anybody. They didn’t have documentation and didn’t know their right to it. They were not allowed to register in the city hall and that denied them access to social services, healthcare and food support.
They stayed at a park in the city, because Mary’s pregnancy was very advanced. Spontaneous support groups asked their people for a provisional shelter, but it had been long since the solidarity network was overwhelmed with demand.
Days passed by and, as they didn’t had nowhere to go, they didn’t know who to notify, nor they had right to go to the emergency service, the child was born in the park, with no assistance.
WhatsApp and social network messages announced his birth. The news were also spread in the centers where their friends were staying. Everybody came to visit. Between all of them they decided they would call him Jesus.
On the very Christmas day, “Punt de Referencia” was able to shelter them in one of their apartments.
Afterwards, some volunteers helped them with the paper work and to find things for the baby.
Thanks to the new migration law, but especially to the work of all volunteers and of “Noves Vies”, on January 6th, as a gift, they received Residency and Work Permit. Now they only need a work offer.
If someone has one, let these institutions know because there are many young people waiting for this opportunity.
From Bethlehem (which could also be any other place in our country), for TV Bethlehem, Laia Bonet.
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