1. The Systems of Mutual Assistance among the Africans in Moscow EASA 2008, Ljubljana Sergey Serov, Russian Academy of Sciences

2. Mutual Assistance Mutual Assistance penetrates all kinds of human relations. We help our relatives, colleagues, acquaintances or even absolutely unknown people. In our everyday life we help materially our friends and relatives, support them in word and deed, look after their little children, help in repair, work, studies etc. Mutual Assistance makes human relations stronger, more trusting and emotionally bright! Sergey Serov, EASA 2008, Ljubljana

3. Introduce All Africans we may divide into 4 categories: the migrants (who have been living in Moscow for a long time and a lot of them have already Russian passport), students (young people, as a rule they themselves or their parents pay for education and they are studying in different Moscow Universities for 5 years: some of them return home and some stay in Moscow as migrants, and some become illegal immigrants), and the third category consists of illegal immigrants (sometimes they are victim of deception, some of them are those who were students in the past and after having finished their education they didn’t return to native country, the reasons of it, as rule, are of economic character). The last category – the staff of embassy. Sergey Serov, EASA 2008, Ljubljana

4. Newcomers and Africans who have been living in Moscow for a long time Most of the students come with help of their State. So the Embassy knows about their arrival. That is the majority of coming students gets support from their compatriots in their first minutes in Moscow. First days students, who have been living in Moscow two or more years, help newcomers. Students, when they are asked about assistance they got when they came to Moscow, say about information assistance on such questions as accommodation, university administration, where to buy products etc. Sergey Serov, EASA 2008, Ljubljana

5. Newcomers and Africans who have been living in Moscow for a long time Africans, who have been living in Moscow for a long time, say that this consultations and support are natural actions, because young Africans are not able to solve their problems themselves, because of their age, lack of experience and bad knowledge of the Russian language. These questions are the next: accommodation, interaction with university administration, the embassy, state structure and etc. So, when first adaptation process finishes the Africans face with financial problems… Sergey Serov, EASA 2008, Ljubljana

6. Financial problems Scholarship is nine hundred rubles a month (it is about 25Euro). Cost of living in Russian Federation is four thousand rubles (110 Euro). So, the scholarship is less on three hundred percents than cost of living. On legislation of Russian Federation, foreign students cannot work. And it becomes obvious that without extra financial assistance from the parents, relatives and native state and mutual assistance the African students cannot study in Russia. Sergey Serov, EASA 2008, Ljubljana

7. The assistance of the country of origin The country of origin aids their compatriots living in Moscow. For example, the government of Angola pays each student about 500$ a month, Gabon pays post-graduate students about 1500$ dollars a month. The Embassy of Sudan every month pays each post-graduate student 800$ dollars, each married post-graduate student 1200$, and married post-graduate student with a child 1500$. However, there are such countries, which do not pay their graduate and post-graduate students every month. For example, Benin… Sergey Serov, EASA 2008, Ljubljana

8. Africans living in Moscow and their relatives that remain in home countries Africans living in Moscow help not only each other but also their relatives that remain in home countries. First of all it refers to those who have already achieved high material welfare or, as one respondent said, “who was lucky more than others”. Such immigrants are those who have been living in Moscow for a long time, sometimes for 20 years and more. They perfectly know the Russian language and make their career or have their own business. They help their relatives that remain in home countries financially and psychologically. Sergey Serov, EASA 2008, Ljubljana

9. Friendly associations Also, friendly associations help the Africans. However, developed friendly associations have only the Africans who are well-organized, for example, associations of Nigeria and Cameroon. Migrants, who lived in Russia before nineteen ninety one notice that in Soviet Union role of friendly association was stronger and mutual assistance was more developed. Sergey Serov, EASA 2008, Ljubljana

10. Friendly associations before 1991 Russia (in the time of USSR) was oriented to active interaction with some African countries: political influence firstly, economical help to African countries, a lot of Africans got education in different Russian institutes and universities, in African countries was provided propaganda of positive image of Russia, that attracted a big number of Africans to Russia. And the State was actively supporting migrants from Africa. Many migrants, who lived in Russia in the time of USSR, say about very high level of the help of friendly associations, working in those years. First of all the reason of it is that such organizations were provided from the side of the State. Now friendly associations are not so strong and in organizing process and in assistance to their members- compatriots. Sergey Serov, EASA 2008, Ljubljana

11. Friendly associations now In 90 years of the last century Russia was busy with solution of its own inside problems and active policy in Africa was stopped. In the period of political and economical difficulties in Russia a lot of social institutes being occupied with help to population (and to immigrants too) became weak. As a result most of associations of migrants and friendly associations now are without State support. Sergey Serov, EASA 2008, Ljubljana

12. Africans and Russian Africans often says in interview, that their more closely friends are Russian. “We may to visit without invite, leave to look after our little children – they are really my closely friends” – said one respondent from Mauritania, who have been lived in Russia 21 years. Another respondent from Cameroon said: “Russian-friends really wanted to help me and relate with understanding”. Sergey Serov, EASA 2008, Ljubljana

13. The Africans who come to Moscow for work The Africans come to Moscow for work more prepared, including financially. Here they may do business, or, for example, become a journalist. Often such Africans are previous students of Russian Universities, who know already the Russian language, and have friendly relations. Such respondents often answer, that they came to Russia for work and did not get financial assistance. However Africans who are successful in their business help other Africans by giving them job. All the respondents said about difficulties in finding job. So this assistance has vital importance. It may be work in a restaurant or translations from the foreign languages. Sergey Serov, EASA 2008, Ljubljana

14. The factors affecting the assistance The factors affecting the assistance are as follows: country of origin, the degree of kin and affinity closeness, personal sympathy. Religion factor respondents noticed as of little importance. Sergey Serov, EASA 2008, Ljubljana

15. The factors affecting the assistance One respondent from Sudan, Moslem, said about his motivation: “I do not recognize division at race and religions. I have two categories: good people and bad people. It is my own philosophy. If Sudanese is bad, I will not help him at all. Good person, even Jew, is my person.” Sergey Serov, EASA 2008, Ljubljana

16. The factors affecting the assistance However in spite of all these factors a person who is in catastrophic situation he will get help even from strange man… Sergey Serov, EASA 2008, Ljubljana

17. The end Thank you for your attention! Sergey Serov, EASA 2008, Ljubljana