OIM Latinoamérica y el Caribe 50d ago

This was the 11th episode of IOM's "Conversations on Migration in the Caribbean" series, focused on the theme "When We Move: Inclusion, Identity, and Belonging." The discussion featured four panelists sharing their personal migration experiences: Jade Gomez, a Guatemalan immigrant who benefited from Belize's amnesty program; Cleveland Castor, a Haitian-born professional raised in Suriname; and Shanna Newton Williams, an entrepreneur from Dominica who relocated to Barbados under the CARICOM Free Movement Agreement. The panelists discussed their challenges maintaining cultural identity while integrating into new communities, the importance of education in facilitating migration, and how positive mentalities helped overcome barriers. They highlighted the role of family support, particularly parents' involvement in children's education and integration, and shared advice for others considering migration. The conversation also touched on specific policy experiences, including Belize's amnesty program and challenges with CARICOM rights of establishment, concluding with each panelist describing migration in one word: opportunity, hope, and adaptability. 0:02 INTRODUCTION: Caribbean Migration and Inclusion 12:21 Identity: Food, Language and Cultural Experiences 19:53 Business, Entrepreneurship, and Integration Experience 26:00 Migrant Education and Inclusion Strategies 30:43 Inclusivity in Education and Society 36:15 Cultural Integration, language adaptation, and discrimination 53:11 Moving as a family, parenting and building community 1:12:30 The Amnesty Programme in Belize 1:16:14 The love of a mother and grandmother 1:22:01 Settling in: the transition from surviving to living 1:26:28 Closing