Beyond Borders: Real Stories, Real People, Real Experiences

At Their Voice Must Be Heard (TVMBH), we believe that behind every migration story is a human being-an individual with a name, a history, and a future-as well as a family and a wider community shaped by hopes, dreams, struggles, and sacrifices. Through our partnerships with Dickinson College and Middlebury College in the United States, we have created a meaningful opportunity to bring the voices and lived experiences of Gambian communities closer to American students, connecting classroom learning to real lives and real places. Together with Dr. Chwalisz and Natalie, we are helping students understand migration beyond what they read in textbooks or see in headlines by exploring the social, economic, cultural, and personal factors that influence people’s decisions to leave home, stay, or return. Through personal testimonies, facilitated discussions, and direct conversations with people and families affected by migration, students get to hear the realities behind journeys from The Gambia to Europe-stories that may include the pressures of unemployment, the weight of family expectations, the risks of irregular travel routes, the challenges of integration abroad, and the enduring impact on those who remain behind.

For us, this collaboration is deeply meaningful because it creates a respectful platform where Gambians can tell their own stories in their own words, share their challenges and resilience, and ensure their perspectives are represented in international conversations that too often speak about them rather than with them. It also helps correct misconceptions by highlighting that migration is rarely a simple or purely economic choice; it can involve complex trade-offs related to safety, opportunity, education, climate pressures, social responsibility, and personal ambition. At the same time, students gain a deeper understanding of the human side of migration by learning how decisions ripple across generations-affecting parents, siblings, children, and neighbors through remittances, separation, trauma, and sometimes renewed hope. We are proud to build these connections because we believe that real change begins when people listen with care, seek context, and learn from one another across borders and lived realities. These are not just stories about migration as a concept or statistic; they are stories about people, families, lost opportunities, courage, grief, perseverance, and hope-about what is left behind and what is sought ahead. At TVMBH, we will continue creating safe, dignified spaces where these voices can be heard, understood, and respected, and where dialogue can lead to greater empathy and more informed engagement. Their Voice Must Be Heard!