Foreigners in Riva and Val di Ledro share mixed experiences on integration and racism
“Words, words, words,” recited a famous song by Mina: about racism, about intolerance, and about coexistence – often difficult – between Italians and non-EU foreigners, practically everything has been said.
But what is the atmosphere like here in our area? What are the relationships between foreigners (mainly from developing countries, of course, because caring for a rich person is far too easy) and the local population of a zone whose economy is almost entirely based on tourism and which, therefore, owes much to the hundreds of seasonal non-EU workers?
Integration experiences and mistrust
“As far as I’m concerned,” explains Mustapha El Baraka, 40 years old, a Moroccan from Marrakech, “I have no reason to complain. I’ve been living in Riva for 13 years now, I am married, have two children, and I’ve never perceived any racism against me.
In the first period after arriving in Italy, I worked at a bakery and now, for many years, I am employed at the Segheria Bracchi in Tiarno di Sopra. I get along well here, and today I can say I have more Italian friends than Moroccan,” he adds.
Positive opinions and critical issues
Almost praise from the Riva residents come from Mustapha, a 34-year-old Senegalese street vendor, very well known in the city. “I’ve been working in the area for about 12-13 years,” he explains, “and I’ve never had any problems here. The people are friendly, and I’ve never encountered racist attitudes.”
On the other hand, the situation in Val di Ledro, especially in Bezzecca, is quite different, where I haven’t collected any pleasant experiences,” he admits.
Similarly, the opinions of Fatmir Hoxha, a 34-year-old Albanian living in Pietramurata and working locally for seven years, are positive. “The first three years of my stay,” explains Fatmir, who works at the Leon d’Oro restaurant construction site in Via Fiume, in an incredible Italy-Trentino mix, “I was exploited like a mule, and in the end, I had to fight hard, against someone I thought was a friend, to get what was owed to me.”
But I can’t generalize definitely, and now I really feel good: I have my family, three other brothers work nearby, and we have never had any problems,” he concludes.
Accommodation issues and opinions on racism
“The hardest part was finding accommodation,” confirms Boufoun Rafik, an Algerian in Riva for four years, “but overall, I’m fine. I have a job, a home, and I don’t complain.”
Regarding the “racism” issue, after what happened in Trento, we also spoke with Maurizio Bressan, owner of Bar Maroni, very popular among non-EU foreigners in Riva. “For me,” he comments, “all customers are equal. Yes, sometimes, there are those who don’t come with the best intentions, but those of us who do this job need to have a certain sensitivity, and, up to now, with the right words, we have managed to resolve the most ‘hot’ situations.”