A vibrant platform of life stories and experiences of older migrant women has been launched online by Queen’s University through an inspiring arts-based research project.
Professor Tess Maginness, Project Director, emphasised the significance of the project: “Labels around gender, age and migrant status can often come loaded with preconceptions of individuals. Our goal was to give these women a voice, to acknowledge their experiences, and to celebrate their contributions to our society.
Many refer to migrating and settling in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, the challenges of preserving cultural heritage and maintaining connection to home and the experiences of raising children in a foreign land. “My knowledge of Northern Ireland was of an island besieged by terror, bombs and conflict. I had just had my third child and the thought of going to such a place with three young children filled me with horror.
He went on to say: “It is a testament to the power of art in bridging cultural divides, celebrating resilience and opening conversations around inclusion, identity, and the valuable contributions of migrant communities to our society. This project is a great example of how Queen’s continues to build on its work as a Civic University.”