Brazil has been shaped by centuries of immigration from all continents. In the last years, the biggest South American state was repeatedly chosen as the destination of many refugees (for example Haitians after the earthquake in 2010). When compared to other South American countries, Brazil has taken in the most Syrian refugees since 2014. Officially there are more than 2.000 Syrians who have settled there. Despite the fact that the Brazilian refugee policy is viewed as exemplary by the UNHCR, there are still some difficulties with regard to the integration of the refugees because of the country’s strongly catholic identity. Religious and cultural differences as well as the search for jobs and places to live have proved to be most challenging for the refugees there, and as well as this the state has failed to offer its new residents the support they need.
Participating author: Andréa del Fuego
Andréa del Fuego was born in São Paulo in 1975. She is the author of the novel Os Malaquias (winner of the José Saramago Prize) published in Germany, Italy, France, Israel, Romania, Sweden, Portugal and Argentina. Her latest novel, The Miniatures, was published in Argentina and France. She is also the author of a trilogy of short stories and children’s books. She won the Literature for All Award from the Ministry of Education with the soap opera Sofia, the Collector and the Driver. She has also contributed to the anthologies: Geração Zero Zero (Generation Zero Zero) (Brazil), Popcorn Unterm Zuckerhut (Germany), Other Carnivals: New Stories (England), Brésil 25 (France) among others. She studied Philosophy at the University of São Paulo (USP).
Brazil – Photographs by André de Toledo Sader
Pari district mosque in Barão street of Ladario 922 in São Paulo. Pari is a quarter traditionally comprised of immigrants. Many Syrian immigrants frequent it.
Photographed in São Paulo, November 2016.
Fatima, a refugee from Senegal.
Photographed in São Paulo, November 2016.
Three young men walking in downtown São Paulo.
Photographed in São Paulo, November 2016.