The MadresUP project promotes spaces for accompaniment and mutual support among culturally minoritized mothers in Spain, with the aim of strengthening their psychosocial well-being. We are pleased to share a series of videos presenting some of the experiences developed with three groups of participating mothers: African, Latin American, and Roma....
On Friday, December 12, 2025, the II Seminar on Mental Health, Human Rights and Minoritized Groups was successfully held at the Assembly Hall of the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Seville. The event was organized by the Center for Research and Community Action of the University of Seville,...
Virginia Paloma participated as a speaker in the final seminar of the “Joint Stories: Journeys from Fear to Fair (JeS)” project, co-funded by the European Union’s Erasmus+ programme and led in Spain by INCOMA. The event was held in a hybrid format on 2 December 2025 in Helsinki, Finland. This...
From the CESPYD research group, we joined the II Andalusian Forum on Cuidadanía on May 23rd and 24th —a space for dialogue and action promoted by the Aliadas por la Cuidadanía platform— where groups and individuals from different fields came together to reflect on the present and future of rights...
On June 18th, 19th, and 20th, the Summer Course “Evaluation and Impact Measurement in Social Mentoring Projects” took place in Pamplona. The course was organized by the Social Mentoring Coordinator, the Public University of Navarre (UPNA), and the UNESCO Chair on Citizenship, Coexistence and Pluralism, with support from the Department...
The 23rd Annual Report of the Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid (CEAR) analyzes the situation of refugees around the world, in the European Union, and primarily in Spain. This Annual Report was presented in Seville on June 17 at the Faculty of Psychology of the University of Seville. During the...
On May 16, 2025, Virginia Paloma participated as a guest speaker at the XIII Jornada de Salud Mental Perinatal organized by the Spanish Marcé Society (MARES). The event, held at the Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBIS) and also broadcast via streaming, brought together professionals and researchers in the field...
Virginia Paloma participated in February 2025 as a guest lecturer in the Official Master’s Program “Migration Movements in the 21st Century: Concepts, Realities, and Actions” at the University of Girona.During her stay, Virginia was invited to take part in the MOVi-MENTs Podcast, where she spoke about the challenges and interventions...
We are pleased to announce the launch of ΨΥΧΟCINE, a new initiative developed in collaboration with undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students, and funded through the Participatory Budget of the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Seville. The project consists of five cinema-forum sessions, using film as a critical tool...
Referencia: Paloma, V., Jiménez‐ Ceballos, J., Duque, T., & Miranda, D. E. (2025). The Experience of Migrant Mothers of African Origin in Spain: A Human Rights‐based Approach to Mental Health. American Journal of Community Psychology, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12798 Abstract: Migrant mothers of African origin (MMAO) face multiple situations of vulnerability in...
CESPYD welcomes Míra Karas from Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary, where she earned her Master’s degree in psychology with a specialization in counselling and school psychology. Under the mentorship of Virginia Paloma, Míra begins a five-month internship with our MadresUP team, a project focused on promoting the resilience and psychosocial...
Coordinator: Virginia Paloma. Duration: 2023-2026. Abstract: Latina, African migrant and Roma mothers in situations of social vulnerability have been relevant agents in our societies. However, they have often been relegated to the margins and trapped in a cycle of vulnerability during their experience of motherhood. Although the life stories of...
Reference: Paloma, V., Benítez, I., Agüero-Collins, A., López-Núñez, C., & Saavedra-Macías, F.J. (2024). Perceived detention environment and mental health of detainees in immigration detention centers in Spain. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40615-024-01977-3 Abstract: The increase in migratory flows worldwide has led to the creation of detention centers as...
This article from ElDiario.es summarizes the actions carried out by CESPYD in the first phase of MadresUp project. During this stage, interviews and group sessions were conducted with African mothers who were being assisted by the Red Cross women’s shelter in Seville. Additionally, the fundamental objectives of the project are...
Coordinator: Virginia Paloma. Duration: 2023. Abstract: This project aims to find out how motherhood develops in contexts of adversity, as well as to promote the exercise of resilient motherhood among African migrant women settled in Seville. To this end, a participatory needs assessment will be carried out with 30 African...
Reference: Paloma, V., Martínez-Damia, S., de la Morena, I., López-Torres, C., & Berbel, I. (2023). A Community-based intervention to enhance posttraumatic growth among refugees in receiving societies. In R. Berger (Ed.), The Routledge International Handbook on Posttraumatic Growth (pp. 542-555). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781032208688 Abstract: This chapter discusses a community-based intervention aimed...
The article “Community participation and subjective wellbeing among the immigrant population in northern Italy: An analysis of mediators”, published in the American Journal of Community Psychology by Martínez-Damia, S., Paloma, V., Luesia, J.F., Marta , E. , and Marzana, D. (https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12652), has been adapted to an informative format and published...
Reference: Martínez-Damia, S., Paloma, V., Luesia, J.F., Marta, E., & Marzana, D. (2023). Uncovering the relationship between community participation and socio-political control among the migrant population. Journal of Community Psychology. http://doi.org/10.1002/jcop.23085 Abstract: Prior research on psychological empowerment has found that community participation is associated with socio-political control, which takes place...
Reference: Martínez-Damia, S., Marzana, D.; Paloma, V., & Marta, E. (2023). Community participation among immigrants: A generative journey towards personal growth. International Journal of Intercultural Relations. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2023.101853 Abstract: Immigrants usually live under oppressive settings and experience social suffering because of the unjust socio-cultural conditions of host societies. Community participation can...
The Jesuit Service to Migrants (SJM) has presented its Annual Report 2022 on Detention Centers for Foreigners (CIE) with the title “Differences that generate inequality”; in an event held in the Parliament of Andalusia on 13 June 2023. The first Vice-President of the Chamber, Ana María Mestre, was present to...
The Jesuit Service to Migrants (SJM) has presented its 2022 Annual Report on Foreigners’ Detention Centres (CIE) in Spain, entitled ‘Inequalities that generate inequality’. In this Report, CESPYD has collaborated in anticipation of the main results of a study on the mental health of inmates, carried out in collaboration with...
Reference: Martínez-Damia, S., Marzana, D.; Paloma, V., & Marta, E. (2023). The mediating role of migrant community-based organizations: Challenges and coping strategies. VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-023-00572-0 Abstract: Migrant community-based organizations (MCBOs) are key mediating structures between immigrants and host societies. However, when implementing this role...
Reference: Aceros, J.C., Duque, T. & Paloma, V. (2023). El activismo en las migrantes trabajadoras del hogar: Estudio cualitativo en el sur de España. Estudios Fronterizos, 24, e116. https://doi.org/10.21670/ref.2305116 Abstract: Domestic work is an oppressive occupational niche for migrant women. The strategies domestic workers employ to resist this situation have...
The article “The Roles of Settings in Supporting Immigrants’ Resistance to Injustice and Oppression: A policy Statement by the Society for Community Research and Action, Division 27 of the American Psychological Association”, published in the American Journal of Community Psychology, has been recognised by Wiley as one of the most...
On 16 March, the final conference of the European ATHENA project “Entrepreneurship as a Path to Socio-Economic Inclusion of Migrant Women” took place at the European Economic and Social Committee. The objective of the event was to present and discuss with the key stakeholders and European politicians the results of...
On 8 February, Virginia Paloma, coordinator of CESPYD, took part as a speaker at the 15th Conference on “Citizenship and Migratory Movements: Proposals for Coexistence and Integration”, organised by the Acción Verapaz association and the parish of San Jacinto (Seville).
CESPYD, in collaboration with the Haurralde Foundation and the Asociación Afro y Defensoras de Derechos Humanos (Colombia), has held the first preparatory meeting of the “III Ibero-American Permanent Forum of Afro-descendant Women and Human Rights Defenders”. This preparatory meeting took place in the Faculty of Psychology of the University...
Reference: Martinez-Damia, S., Paloma, V., Luesia, J. F., Marta, E., & Marzana, D. (2023). Community participation and subjective wellbeing among the immigrant population in Northern Italy: An analysis of mediators. American Journal of Community Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajcp.12652 Abstract: Community participation can be a potential strategy to increase the degree of the subjective wellbeing of immigrants within receiving societies....
Coordinators: Daniela-Eugenia Miranda and Manuel García-Ramírez. Duration: Ongoing project. Abstract: The post-pandemic Spain must ensure that the next generations of Romani women definitively overcome the inequalities they have suffered for centuries and harness new emerging opportunities. It is widely recognized that Romani women and girls are in risk of facing even a...
Coordinators: Manuel García-Ramírez and Virginia Paloma. Duration: Ongoing project. Abstract: Post-COVID Europe must ensure that the next generations of Roma people overcome the inequalities they have suffered for centuries. The pandemic has catalysed these inequalities and risks further exacerbating their difficulties in accessing decent housing, access to employment and fair working conditions,...
Coordinators: Manuel García-Ramírez and Virginia Paloma. Duration: Ongoing project. Abstract: Early marriage and motherhood among Roma women (REMM) in Andalusia impoverish their lives, puts them at risk for physical and mental health, makes them vulnerable to domestic violence, precipitates school dropouts and condemns them to precarious jobs. Although it is usually attributed to...
Reference: Duque, T., Aceros, J.C., & Paloma, V. (2022). Sociopolitical development of female migrant domestic workers in southern Spain: A qualitative study of a pathway against injustice. Journal of Community & Applied Social Psychology. http://doi.org/10.1002/casp.2613. Abstract: Domestic work is a sector characterized by various forms of injustice, prompting some women...
El Diario de Sevilla se hace eco de la creación de yiló, una asociación que vela por los intereses de la ciudadanía de Polígono Sur y Torreblanca y que cuenta desde el principio con el apoyo de CESPYD. Podéis leer la noticia completa en el siguiente enlace: https://www.diariodesevilla.es/sevilla/corazon-Mil-rostro-mujer_0_1656734953.html
Reference: Garrido, R., Paloma, V., Benítez, I., Skovdal, M., Verelest, A. & Derluyn, I. (2022). Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological well-being of migrants and refugees settled in Spain. Ethnicity & Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2022.2035692. Abstract: Objectives. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated health inequalities worldwide, having a disproportionately harsh impact on...
Participamos en las VIII Jornadas de Excelencia e Innovación en Psicología y Virginia Paloma ha presentado la mesa La Psicología ante el desafío de la pobreza, con Matilde Fernández, socia de honor de ACNUR y exministra de Asuntos Sociales. Podéis ver la intervención de Virginia y la mesa presentada por...
Reference: Iglesias-Rosado, B. & Leon-Larios, F. (2021). Breastfeeding experiences of Latina migrants living in Spain: a qualitative descriptive study. Int Breastfeed J 16, 76. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13006-021-00423-y. Abstract: Background. The migratory flows in Spain have changed due to the arrival of a diverse migrant population. Among the new migrants the Latino collective...
Reference: MacFarlane, A., Ogoro, M., De Freitas, C., Niranjan, V., Severoni, S. & Waagensen, E. (2021). “Migrants’ involvement in health policy, service development and research in the WHO European Region: A narrative review policy and practice”. Tropical Medicine & International Health. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/tmi.13643. Abstract: OBJECTIVES. The involvement of individuals and communities...
Reference: Paloma, V., de la Morena, I. & Busche, V. (2021). Posttraumatic Growth Intervention for Refugees: Implementation Manual. Center for Community Research and Action at the Universidad de Sevilla. Abstract: Este manual ha sido elaborado para facilitar la puesta en funcionamiento del programa de intervención diseñado al amparo del proyecto...
CESPYD asiste al Fundamental Rights Forum 2021 para hablar del rol de las niñas gitanas en la abogacía y la participación política el día 12 de octubre a las 14.30 horas (CET). Para más información, os dejamos el enlace de la sesión: https://epha.org/investing-in-roma-youth-for-advancing-fairer-and-healthier-european-societies/ Welcome to the Fundamental Rights Forum 2021...
More information: https://www.canalsur.es/noticias/la-poblacion-gitana-en-precario-por-el-estado-de-alarma/1578827.html
More information: https://sevilla.abc.es/sevilla/sevi-investigadores-concluyen-ricos-votan-mas-202102251345_noticia.html
En el informativo de 7 TV Andalucía han entrevistado a Virginia Paloma la coordinadora de CESPYD acerca del estudio Apart Together y sus resultados a nivel internacional. Os dejamos el fragmento del informativo en el que podéis ver la entrevista que le hizo Moisés Ruz a nuestra compañera Virginia Paloma. Pinchad...
En Onda Local de Andalucía, en el programa De este a oeste, han entrevistado a Virginia Paloma la coordinadora de CESPYD acerca del estudio Apart Together y sus resultados a nivel internacional. Os dejamos el fragmento del programa en el que podéis escuchar la entrevista que le hizo Paco Aguaza...
Reference: Miranda, D. E., Zhelyazkova, L. & Sladkova, J. (2021). A Photovoice Project for Ethnic Health Justice: Reflections from Roma Communities in Seville, Spain. Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, 12(2), 1-17. Abstract: Roma are Europe’s largest ethnic minority and despite their national citizen status, 80% live in extreme poverty...
Reference: Garrido, R. (2019). Hacia la Equidad en Salud en Andalucía: Diagnóstico de la incorporación de una perspectiva sensible a la diversidad cultural y al género en las políticas y servicios sanitarios. Sevilla: MAD África. Abstract: Este estudio se enmarca en el proyecto Nder: Alzando la voz desde los feminismos...
The group of Roma women from Polígono Sur and Torreblanca, through their grassroots organization YILÓ, @somosyilo, is denouncing the constant problems in their neighborhoods due to the constant power cuts. They expressed this situation during a heat wave last August, now, in the middle of a cold wave, the cuts...
Reference: World Health Organization. (2020). ApartTogether survey: Preliminary overview of refugees and migrants self-reported impact of COVID-19. Geneva: World Health Organization. Licence: CC BY‐NC‐SA 3.0 IGO. Abstract: ApartTogether is a collaboration between World Health Organization and a consortium of research centres led by Prof. Ilse Derluyn and Dr. An Verelst...
Coordinator: Virginia Paloma. Duration: August-december 2018. Abstract: The cause of migration from the countries of origin to Andalusia is very varied, although immigrants tend to have the goal of improving their well-being conditions. Well-being is defined as the life satisfaction manifested by immigrants when their physical and psychological needs are met...
On World Children’s Day in the climate of COVID-19 we must highlight the urgent challenge to protect the rights of Roma girls across Europe. COVID-19 has marked a grim time in which Roma girls have experienced a significant loss in their closest networks, insufficient resources to continue their schooling at home, the...
