This summer, Marie, Catherine, Rexhina, and Maria participated in the MDT Move 4 Human Rights Summer Edition. The two-week program was an opportunity for young people to bridge human rights theory and practice while building inclusive societies and addressing human rights issues. This article shares their experiences and highlights the impactful project they developed during the program.
Engaging Workshops
In the first week, participants joined workshops organized by Human Security Collective, Human Rights in the Picture, Our Bodies Our Voice, and Justice & Peace. These sessions offered practical tools for addressing human rights issues and provided insights into how human rights organizations operate.
When it came time to select a focus for their group assignment, the team was drawn to participatory action research, a method highlighted in the workshops by Human Security Collective and Human Rights in the Picture. According to them, this approach resonated with the team because it introduced them to innovative methods of advocacy, such as storytelling, that combine creative approaches with real-world human rights challenges. They were particularly inspired by the idea of working directly with affected communities, ensuring that their voices were central to the solutions being developed.
Meeting New People
The diversity of the group played a significant role in the personal growth of all four participants. Reflecting on the experience, Maria shared, “Every single assignment or conversation we had had an impact on me. Even the small conversations sometimes just made me aware of everybody's positionality and how different we all are.”
This exposure to varied perspectives deepened their understanding of human rights issues, highlighting the value of learning from each other's backgrounds and experiences.
The Shadow of Immigration
During the program, participants put their learning into practice through group projects. Their project, The Shadow of Immigration, aimed to highlight the often-overlooked stories of immigrants and refugees. The team focused on the experiences of refugees arriving in the Netherlands, interviewing individuals in an asylum center in Utrecht.
The project used visual storytelling to bring these journeys to life. A detailed map illustrated the long and complex routes refugees take from their home countries, highlighting the challenges along the way. To protect anonymity, the team used outlines, or “shadows,” of people, each accompanied by narratives and quotes that offered a glimpse into their experiences. A video component offered an immersive look into the stories.
“The shadow is a metaphor,” explains Marie. “Sometimes, in order to see shadows, you have to put lights on. We wanted to highlight the unspoken words and situations that immigrants face.”
Catherine added, “We wanted to remove labels and talk about them as human beings, not as refugees.”
The team was motivated by their own experiences and a shared desire to humanize the immigrant experience.
Impact
The team hopes that The Shadow of Immigration will foster greater empathy and understanding. By bringing these stories to light, they aim to challenge stereotypes and encourage a more compassionate view of immigration.
"We are shedding light on parts of the topic that have not been talked about much and maybe not covered in the media. We're giving the people we interview the space to be heard, which they might not have had before. That’s a positive impact on them, who are the most important actors in this project.”
Marie, Catherine, Maria, and Rexhina’s participation in the Move 4 Human Rights Summer Edition showcases the effectiveness of combining education, creativity, and collaboration in advancing human rights advocacy. Their project stands as a testament to their dedication to making a meaningful impact on how immigration is perceived and understood.
