We Invited International Storytellers Into Your Living Room: Migration Jam 2020
Unprecedented times call on us to utilise our creativity in order to continue doing what we believe in. Last year, Migration Jam had its debut with a physical conference in Istanbul. Refugees and migrants came together to share their stories and their experiences with an international audience, on stage and in open discussion rounds.
This year, our team at Project Phoenix supported Amal Jibril, the founder of Migration Jam, in moving the conference online to Zoom video rooms for intimate online panel discussions and workshops. This year’s speakers were nothing short of insightful and inspiring in the sharing their stories and engaging the audience in their online discussions, centered around issues that arose with the global COVID-19 outbreak.
Migration Jam is built on the belief that stories surround us, shaping our perception of the world and other people. Too often the media is able to push a negative narrative around migration into the foreground, whereby stories of success and hope frequently remain unnoticed. Earlier this year, we were very happy to invite Amal Jibril to one of our first Phoenix Talks to learn more about her story and vision around Migration Jam. You can see the recording of the live stream, moderated by Michael Goecken, on our YouTube channel or read about it in our post Brunch Food and Storytelling: Fatma Al-Baiti and Amal Jibril on Changing Migration Narratives.
On the weekend of the 13th and 14th of June 2020, 21 speakers and over 150 viewers joined Project Phoenix and Migration Jam for the online conference on Migration and COVID-19 — We Are All In This Together.
On the first day, Project Phoenix and Migration Jam welcomed journalists, researchers, social entrepreneurs, innovators, and grassroots activists onto the virtual stage. Hrishabh Sandilya, the Director for Partnership and Development at Project Phoenix, led the first panel discussion of the day. This focused on the responsibility, or lack thereof, which the media has in highlighting the positive stories around migration.
After a short virtual coffee break, Zamzam Abdi Jama discussed innovative approaches of various migrant communities in responding to the crisis.
At noon, Tiziana engaged with the speakers of the third panel discussion, who shared their experiences in supporting communities in their country of origin in relation to COVID-19, as well as the impact of the media when highlighting alternative voices. Tiziana will provide further insights into her experiences moderating her first panel discussion in a future post.
Following her panel, Michael Goecken, the Founder and Executive Director of Project Phoenix led us into the fourth session of the day. His panel discussion elaborated on Hackathons, Bootcamps, and Social Labs, among other co-created methods to move towards innovative solutions.
The final panel discussion of the day was hosted by Amal Jibril. Alongside Amal, the speakers were able to elaborate on the role of grassroots initiatives in times of crisis — which seek to take action to overcome the hurdles that we all face.
On Day 2 of Migration Jam 2020, we were excited to welcome three experienced workshop hosts to engage with our audience members who had previously signed up to participate. The workshops were not live-streamed to provide a safe space for everyone participating who wished to share their ideas and stories comfortably.
Dr Gabriele Sauberer, whom we previously got to know in our Phoenix Talks in April, hosted the first workshop on Sunday, which focused on positive psychology and methods. These methods help us to raise our awareness for ourself and others, in order to help us emerge stronger out of times of crisis, utilising resources already in our lives. Throughout her session, participants were able to engage with each other in virtual break-out rooms, and then share their experiences back in the online workshop room.
Followed by a break and some new arrivals, Adel AlBaghdadi presented the work of his organisation, WeOrganization, which is based in Rotterdam. He discussed the importance of labels and seeing those who have migrated not only as “the refugee”, or “the migrant”, but as individuals first. He shared his organisations’ most recent projects, then and opened up the room to questions about the process of integration into a host community, when led by the people who have a migrant or refugee background.
To complete two successful days of Migration Jam 2020, the last workshop focused on the quintessence of Migration Jam: the role of positive storytelling to connect and engage people to change narratives. Hadi Althib from MeWe International provided the workshop attendees with an introduction to his craft, followed by time to self-reflect on everyone’s individual story in relation to COVID-19. Those who wished to become part of an international storytelling book then had the chance to share their story with the group and send a written version to Hadi, who is helping MeWe International with its production.
Next week, we will be zooming in on the experiences of our project coordinators Tiziana and Holly as Migration Jam first-timers.
Project Phoenix is a young European NGO and social enterprise working to empower migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers in an urban setting, using the best of a social innovation playbook. Premised on the pillars of sustainability, economic empowerment through entrepreneurship, socio-cultural integration through professional-skills training and mentorship, we leverage our global networks and fill gaps that legacy institutions and international organisations are often unable to. We are limber, agile and use a systems-thinking, non-prescriptive approach to present feasible solutions.
Project Phoenix is currently running a Pilot Project on the ground in Cyprus. Motivated individuals apply to join as fellows to receive assistance through skills training and entrepreneurial support. Fellows contribute to their local community through the establishment of their own social enterprise which allows them to pay it forward. This innovative approach encourages the sustainable empowerment of refugees and migrants and the development of a circular and sustainable economic and social movement on the island.
