The project of Revalidation of Diplomas, from LAR (portuguese acronym for “Taking Help to Refugees”) was created in 2016 as a result of the partnership between Compassiva Association and UNHCR (The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees). Aiming at mediating the process for the candidate, removing the bureaucratic and financial onus, by gathering all necessary documentation and bearing the costs with diploma revalidation fees and certified translations of the documents, analyzing the program content curriculums at the public universities in Brazil, in order to find the most compatible for the application, monitoring the process and lodging resources, whenever necessary, and subsequent registration at the regional board (if applicable).
A considerably important part of the fitting and inclusion of refuge applicants and refugees in Brazilian society is their placement in the workforce. Most of them are professionals who had to leave their jobs, studies and businesses in full development to flee from their home country. Many of them held prominent posts and therefore have vast experience in their area of expertise, some even with certain level of technical or academic qualification. Thus, upon arrival in Brazil, they expect to continue their careers or at least restart them in the same field. Nonetheless, when looking for jobs in their area of expertise, these immigrants, besides the language issue, they have to face the bureaucratic barriers that stop their university diplomas to be recognized as valid in Brazil and, consequently, prevent them from having access to vacancies that are compatible with their profile, education and professional qualification.
Compassiva figured out the opportunity to act in this cause, assisting Arab refugees in São Paulo, as we learned that one of our students in the Portuguese course, Mr. Y*, was a Mechanic Engineer, with masters in Nuclear Radioactivity, but was working in a jeans manufacturer at Brás (SP downtown), earning approximately R$ 1.500,00 per month, which was used for his own living and that of his six brothers and sisters. However, if his diploma was accepted in Brazil, he could work in his area of expertise, have a better salary and help his family during the hardship that a new start is in foreign ground.
Another student of Compassiva´s, Mr. K*, who is graduated in Computer Science, came to us for help with the revalidation of his diploma, and as we searched about this new inquiry, at different universities, including in other cities, we found out that in the State of Rio de Janeiro the fees were considerably lower, R$ 590,00. In the light of the needs that were found and presented by the students assisted by Compassiva, we developed Compassiva’s project of Revalidation of Diplomas and presented it to UNHCR in a partners selective process at the end of 2015. We were approved and the partnership between Compassiva and UNHCR officially started in 2016, with the possibility to assist refugees throughout Brazil.
This year (2021), the project celebrates 5 years of existence! During this period, we’ve filed 454 processes, having 89 diplomas been revalidated. Certainly, this project was an important milestone in the history of Compassiva and can still help a lot of people throughout Brazil.
“It all started with an effort to help that one Portuguese student; I could never imagine it could have such scope and help hundreds of people all over Brazil. I’m very grateful to Compassiva, because in the effort of helping I found my calling.” adds Camila Suemi Tardin, Compassiva’s project of Revalidation of Diplomas.
Follow the next articles and find out how the project developed and has, amidst difficulties, found opportunity for action.
* names are protected
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