The metal sound of keys locking gates in detention centres and the sight of soldiers in uniform often triggered memories of torture and rape suffered by migrants who fled their country.

These migrants, who faced traumatic experiences during their treacherous journey at sea, felt relieved on reaching the safety of Maltese shores.

Humanity transcends borders

But their hopes of a better life were crushed when they realised they would be detained, said Kristina Zammit from Jesuit Refugee Services.

The experience often triggered psychological problems as memories of abuse came crashing down on them, said Ms Zammit as she stressed the need for migrants to be offered support through counselling on arrival.

Ms Zammit was delivering a presentation during a three-day seminar entitled ‘Cross Borders: Counselling and the Challenges of Migration’, organised by the Department of Counselling within the University of Malta’s Faculty for Social Wellbeing.

Neil Falzon, director of human rights NGO Aditus Foundation, mapped out the life of an asylum seeker in Malta: Apart from dealing with the basic problems facedby all migrants – such as coping with a new language and culture – they also faced racist feelings and preconceptions.

Some experienced severe human rights violations, including torture and rape, before they embarked on the journey they knew could be fatal. Then, after facing all this turmoil, when they arrived in Malta they were placed in detention.

It was from within this “oppressive environment” that they had to explain to the Maltese authorities why they deserved protection.

“Imagine you are a woman who was raped and you have to open up to the government without having even met a counsellor first,” Dr Falzon said, stressing the important role of counsellors to help migrants speak about their traumatic experiences.

When they were released from detention, he added, they were suddenly expected to know what to do and understand the complexities of society. Counsellors played a crucial role in integration, he added.

President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca said that, when talking about migrants the discourse was often focused on their tough journey at sea.

She was glad to see that the seminar shifted the focus on the aspect of their “life journey” and their needs as people.

“People are first and foremost human beings and humanity transcends borders,” she said.

Words that hit home

When a Somali teenager first shared the lyrics of a song he had written about his homeland’s capital Mogadishu, the interpreter burst into tears as the words hit home.

The lyrics spoke about the way Mogadishu had changed over the years and were written by the teenager who had left his country to flee the war, explained musician and rapper Jon Mallia.

The teenager shared his song – through which he expressed his feelings – during a music workshop organised last year at Dar Is-Sliem, in Santa Venera, that housed adolescent asylum seekers.

Mr Mallia and theatre practitioner Marc Cabourdin, who were involved in the project, explained that the experience helped them encourage young migrants to express themselves through music and dance.

“When we went there we realised that these young people wanted to talk about what all young people do – girlfriends and love. And after we spoke about these things, they expressed themselves about other matters,” Mr Mallia said.

Mr Cabourdin said that, through music and song, they encouraged young people to build on their strengths and help them develop a voice – an experience that was immensely rewarding.