Families in Motion

Ties are severed but never lost.

In collaboration with Tamara Gutverg| Stephanie Quon|Alexander Willim

What would you do if you were separated from your family and never knew when you would see them again? Imagine how that would feel; to be half way across the world and struggling to get by day by day. To be isolated. To be completely on your own, with no help from your loved ones.

This is the reality of migration. The experience of moving to a completely new place is uncertain; you never know when you’ll see your loved ones again.

The stories on the map featured below show the experiences of multiple families from different countries all over the world. Every experience is unique, but this collection of stories paints a powerful picture.

When the opportunity arises, people are willing to go against all odds to find a home and create a better life. But that doesn’t mean that the experience was not worth it. Resilience, persistence, and love can be some of the most powerful motivators for people to overcome the greatest obstacles life can bring. It is a matter of innate determination and indignation to know that this is a change that is worth fighting for.

This story was created by a team of students at the 2016 Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change. It exists as part of a digital publication which explores how personal stories and human connections can enable us and others to be more inclusive, responsive, and understanding of migrants and the socio-political-cultural impacts of migration.