“By the end of the week you feel like you have gone around the world": TAP student Mya Badhan reflects on her experience with Migration Matters Festival

Image 1: Poster from Migration Matters Festival introducing Mya with an image and text describing their story.

Mya Badhan offers an insightful glance into their internship, creating a workshop celebrating diversity with Migration Matters Festival.

Over the Summer I interned at Sheffield’s Migration Matters Festival with Aki, a fellow TAP intern. During our internship we helped facilitate the running of the festival and organised and produced our own storytelling event, ‘Our Journey Here’, where we interviewed a wide range of people and asked them about their heritage and migratory journey as well as providing henna and samosas. I am very grateful I got to participate in the festival as I believe wholeheartedly in what it stands for. I wrote this poem as a way to capture the different skills and qualities that I have developed during my internship. 

M- Mindfulness

• This concept was an integral part of the process, being self-aware was important in cultivating a safe and supportive environment in which artists could work effectively. Being mindful is essential when interacting with different people and cultures, as well as interviewing people who may have experienced trauma. 

I- Integrity 

• Another core principle that was present throughout the TAP process, the very nature of the Festival was to bring people from across the world together, and to celebrate the cultural diversity of Sheffield and the UK. The particular emphasis on aiding others showcases this.

G- Global

• Although the Festival is based in Sheffield, by the end of the week you feel like you have gone around the world. With so many events, artists and communities represented, it’s a great opportunity to truly appreciate the cultural richness that our world has to offer. 

R- Refuge

• Sheffield is a City of Sanctuary which provides safety to those who flee persecution or violence. The Festival is reflective of the city as a whole and so is a safe space for people to freely express themselves. Refuge not only applies to the welcoming of refugees and the strong solidarity that can be found here, but also as a physical safe haven.

A- Arts

• The freedom of expression that can be found in the creative field is perfectly paired with the ethos of the Festival, to celebrate different cultures and people. The Arts offer another way to express one’s history and it’s eye-opening to see how many different forms of expression there can be. The Migration Matters Festival cultivates creative expression and lateral thinking, which allows the spectators, artists and team to all prosper. 

T-Tranquillity

• While helping manage the Festival may be busy, stressful or even hectic, there is a certain sort of calmness or tranquillity that the ethos evokes. After reflection, it could be said that being in a place where everyone is trying to effect positive change on the world around us, be that advocating for human rights or highlighting the importance of human migration, may be calming for the soul. 

I- Insightful

• Being around people from all over the world, who have different life experiences and as such different perspectives is truly insightful. It is useful in seeing things from other perspectives or learning new things. Although it’s cliché to say, it does broaden your horizon and makes you a more well rounded individual. 

O- Optimism 

• A key element of this festival is hope for the future. Enacting change today will mean that we will see the achievements in the future. Therefore the promotion of migrants’ cultures, the welcoming of refugees, the encouragement of solidarity, cooperation and harmony between people, (all spearheaded by the Festival) are hopefully to be seen on a more widespread scale in the future.

N- Nurturing 

• The festival is almost an entity itself that cares for those who are involved in some form or another. Moreover, it’s a support system that protects human rights for migrants and nurtures them and their forms of expression. 

M- Memories

• Our cultural identity as people can be defined by our memories, our past experiences, our history and heritage and traditions. These memories culminate into how we see ourselves, and these memories are reflected in the events portrayed in the Festival, it makes us realise the full potential of memories and how influential they can be in our identities. In a way, the Festival is a collection of different memories. In addition, the Festival provides the opportunity to create plenty of fun memories as well.

A- Accommodating

• Welcoming others is essentially what Migration Matters is about, but accommodating can also attest to the commitment of those involved to house and rehome those in need so that they can start a new life. 

T-Talent 

• It’s clear that the Festival is inundated with talent, as well as being a place for people to cultivate their talents and expertise. Helping to manage such an event is a test for your abilities but also an opportunity to learn more about yourself.

T- Therapeutic

• Dealing with trauma in a healthy way by expressing oneself through the Arts is one benefit of this festival. People’s migratory journeys are all different and some experience trauma both in their native countries and in their host countries. Migration Matters provides tools to help people face and overcome their trauma in safe spaces.

E- Empowering

• Migration is one of the most debated topics in current political times, and over the years hostile policies have dehumanised migrants, refugees and asylum seekers and denied them basic rights. The Festival is a way of fighting back and empowering migrant communities and those in need by helping them reclaim their agency. 

R-Representation

• Unfortunately in our society too many people feel underrepresented, the Festival provides the opportunity to see yourself represented and to really feel seen. This can be especially comforting to those migrants who feel alone or communities who are scarcely seen in the media.

S- Synergy

• The whole idea of the TAP programme is the unity of people to reach a common goal, Migration Matters is an embodiment of this. Different communities who work harmoniously together to empower each other, advocate for human rights, support those in need and to provide great entertainment. I’m very grateful to be a part of this.