It is 10 a.m. in downtown São Paulo, Brazil, and a queue is already forming outside the civil society organisation Pacto pelo Direito de Migrar (PDMIG – Pact for the Right to Migrate). They are men, women, and children from Angola, Venezuela, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Afghanistan, and many other countries. Each face tells a story, carries pain, and holds hope.
PDMIG has become, for many, a place of new beginnings. People share their stories of hunger, war, persecution, gender-based violence, and joblessness. They have questions answered and draw on support while they await the outcome of their visa and asylum applications. One thing unites all who go there: the desire to be recognised, to legally exist in a foreign land so they may rebuild their lives.
A safe space in a hostile world
Founded in 2014 by migrants and refugees, PDMIG was created to provide a safe and welcoming space for all those arriving in São Paulo. It offers a range of services focused on regularisation, social integration, and the empowerment of migrants in public and private spaces. It is especially active in helping migrants navigate the job market, where countless barriers to access, recognition, and inclusion exist.
