Six refugees who originally had arrived in Italy by crossing the Mediterranean have started working alongside Italian archeologists who are excavating sites on the Italian island of Sicily.
Alongside archaeologists from the University of Geneva, the refugees in Sicily are taking part in an excavation campaign which is underway in Segesta -- with great success: The digging has recently brought to light an ancient street that was used in the Hellenic city.
Archaeologist Alessia Mistretta is enthusiastic about the program: "The commitment shown by these youths is commendable," she said. "I began a similar experiment years ago at the Lilibeo Archaeological Park in Marsala. Now we are doing it again, with results that we take pride in."
The same enthusiasm is shared by Segesta Archaeological Park director Luigi Biondo, who says that "seeing the eyes of these youths when they understand that they have found something important is invaluable."
"They feel like they are taking part in a moment of historical significance," Biondo added.
The project, which is called Archaeology for Solidarity, is supported by the Casa Belvedere migrant reception center in Marsala alongside the Segesta Archaeological Park itself.
Working from dawn to dusk
The young migrants have a structured routine each day: In the morning, they wake up early to eat breakfast before the sun rises. Soon thereafter, they are transferred by bus from the migrant center in Marsala to Segesta, where they work alongside a team of archaeologists.
Since all of them are Muslims who uphold the holy month of Ramadan, they take a long break to rest in the afternoon, as they won't eat or drink until after sunset.
Still they have a lot of fun: They take photos and send them to their families, recounting their new experiences as archeology assistants. Some hope this might lead to longterm employment options.
Giving back to the host country
One of them is a young sub-Saharan man named Monday, who arrived in Sicily in 2017. By now, he speaks flawless Italian.
"I used to work in the fields but this is different," he told the ANSA news agency. "(Physical) strength is not enough, and intelligence is also required here. We are at an archaeological site that is part of Sicilian history, and this is exciting for me."
"I would like to continue studying to not only learn the language but also the culture of the country that is hosting me. Basically, I want to do something useful," Monday concludes.