Migration Matters

One of the most exciting aspects of our work is having access to a global network of people working on migration from very different perspectives — research, civil society, education, media, and beyond. Each perspective challenges and enriches our work.

This week we were invited to Tallinn University to participate in the workshop “Narratives at the Crossroads: Migration, Polarization, and Political Inclusion in Uncertain Times.” The workshop brought together researchers from across Europe to discuss how migration narratives are shaped, politicized, and circulated, especially in times of increasing polarization and moments of “crisis.”

Migration Matters was invited to bring the civil society perspective to the discussion. As the only non-academic organization presenting at the workshop, we shared our work complicating migration narratives through educational media, storytelling, and dialogue. Sophia Burton, co-founder of Migration Matters, also spoke about the importance of translating research and bringing a wider range of voices and lived experiences into migration debates.

There was a lot of engagement and curiosity from the researchers around the practical side of our work — from communicating research beyond academia to measuring impact and creating spaces for more nuanced public conversations.

Thank you to the organizers at Tallinn University and nccr – on the move (University of Neuchâtel) for the invitation and for putting together such a thoughtful and engaging event!

“Most of the time, displacement is only seen as a political issue, but climate change, as we can see, affects women more directly [...]” – Priscilla Achapka, environmental activist and founder of the Women Environmental Programme

In this episode of Voices on the Move, we get closer to the lived experiences and adaptive strategies of women in climate vulnerable areas across Kenya and Nigeria. Despite their knowledge and experiences, women remain underrepresented in climate decision-making areas.

Yet, through “chamas” in Kenya and other community-led organisations, women are leading responses to climate change - diversifying livelihoods, building support networks and sharing information about sustainable resources and practices. Priscilla’s advocacy reminds us of the need to recognize womens’ indigenous knowledge as crucial to the development of climate change and mobility policies.

🌍In our podcast, we explore the complex relationships between climate change and migration, providing you with the voices of climate migrants, displaced persons, and community leaders as well as the insights of migration researchers.

🔗 Link in bio for the full episode.
🎧 Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

Voices on the Move was produced by Migration Matters, , , and the HABITABLE project.