São Paulo – OKA, a mobile application designed for immigrants and refugees, was launched in São Paulo, Brazil this week to mark International Human Rights Day, via a partnership between Instituto Igarapé, São Paulo’s Municipal Secretariat for Human Rights and Citizenship (SMDHC), and NGO Atados.
The app provides information on rights and federal and local public services relating to housing, education, healthcare, documentation, and social and legal assistance. Also included is information on the requirements to qualify for these rights, including the documentation needed.
Prior to its São Paulo launch, the app had been available in Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and Boa Vista (RR), with information on services available from public organizations across Brazil.
The launch event was held at the Immigration Museum Auditorium (pictured above). In attendance were Instituto Igarapé executive director Melina Risso; UNHCR Brazil office chief Maria Beatriz Nogueira; Syrian-born English teacher at Abraço Cultural and former São Paulo Municipal Immigrants’ Council chairwoman Nour Massoud; NGO Atados founder Daniel Assunção; and SMDHC Immigrant and Decent Labor Promotion Policies coordinator Jennifer Anyuli.
New functionalities have been added, including artificial intelligence-based updating of content, migrant service providers of excellence, service rating, and precise geolocation.
OKA also accepts registration from institutions and organizations looking to promote entrepreneurship-related services and information. The app is accessible even with no internet connection, and is available in Portuguese, Spanish, French and English from the Apple Store and Google Play.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
