MIGRANT LIVES IN PANDEMIC TIMES: A collection of personal stories and the policy change they inspire

The COVID-19 pandemic left no life untouched. Beyond the collective trauma of isolation and uncertainty, migrant workers worldwide faced unique challenges dictated by their location and immigration status. This project examines how everyday livelihoods shifted during the pandemic, focusing on four critical pillars: work, housing, migration status, and family.

By foregrounding the voices of migrant protagonists and inviting them to co-produce their own stories, this project highlights the diversity of the migrant experience. In doing so, it builds solidarity and empathy while providing a platform to inform policy and practice across borders. Simultaneously, the project fosters an international network of early-career researchers to draft policy papers addressing challenges that were either surfaced or exacerbated by the pandemic.

Ultimately, this initiative investigates the distinct hardships faced by migrant workers in Canada and abroad. By utilizing digital storytelling, the project mobilizes knowledge beyond the university, engaging a broad audience of civil society stakeholders, policymakers, and scholars.

The project paired twelve researchers from around the world – Canada, the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, Ghana, South Africa, India and Singapore – with 12 migrant protagonists. Researchers were supported by project partner, Migration Matters (external link) , a German media non-profit that coached researchers through digital story-telling workshops and consultations. The completed films were the source of policy commentaries that were drafted by researchers in response to the issues raised by the migrant protagonists.

Watch the stories and read the policy papers here: https://www.migrantlives.net/ (external link)