What are the experiences of poverty and integration of sub-saharan migrant mothers living in the community?

Abstract

This study aims to portray the lived experience of poverty and integration of Sub-Saharan migrant mothers, living in the Maltese community in order to identify and expose the difficulties encountered and to better understand what changes would be welcomed and considered beneficial by these migrant mothers. Malta’s geographical location, as one of the first safe havens, especially for those migrants who attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea from the Libyan shores, has turned Malta into the new home of over twenty thousand migrants over the last decade or so. The significant number of migrants seeking shelter and a new start of a safe life is received with mixed feelings by the Maltese population who is divided into those who find the cultural differences as an insurmountable challenge and those who embrace the same difference in terms of cultural background and focus on the richness of incorporating the experience of the new culture. The experience of the migrant mothers was elicited through semi-structured interviews, giving the possibility to share freely their practical knowledge, while also seeking to find out what services they would consider beneficial. Findings from this study suggest that support for this vulnerable group is fragmented, the Catholic Church provides help in terms of accommodation, NGO’s, such as the Jesuit Refugee Service provide legal aid and provisions of necessities such as food and clothing items. This study concludes that the Integration Policy is long overdue, the current legislation and social security provisions do not cater for the needs of the migrants as a group living in poverty and with limited possibilities in every aspect of life. Social work is in a unique position to identify and advocate for culturally sensitive services and to promote awareness and inclusion strategies for migrant mothers in Malta.