Beyond the data: Migrants’ experiences in research – Part 3

On International Migrants Day, AspirE, DYNAMIG and PACES – three EU-funded projects on migration decision-making – want to honour and reflect on the voices of migrants in migration research. In this three-part interview series, we focus on how (aspiring) migrants experienced their participation in our research. Through their reflections, we aim to shed light on the human side of academic studies, exploring what it means to share one’s story.

• Read ‘Part 1: Interview with Abel’ on the PACES website.
• Read ‘Part 2: Interview with Flor’ on the AspirE website.

Part 3: Interview with Felicity

In this interview, we spoke to Felicity* about her experience participating in DYNAMIG research.

Q: What was your motivation to participate in this project?

Felicity: At first, I didn’t know what it was, until I sat down with the interviewer and they started asking me questions, telling me what they intend to do. First, I thought it was just a one-off thing, I thought I’m not going to see them again. After I knew what it was, I was kind of excited, because I felt like I was going to be giving a report of, not actually of my daily life, but at least part of it. Of my migration stages, what I’m doing and my plans. I have to tell it to someone, and it’s giving me peace. I’m telling them: “at this point I did this, at this point I did that”, and all that. I liked it, that’s why I agreed to do it.

Q: What has been your experience taking part in this research?

Felicity: Even if the interviewer is not talking back to me immediately, when I am sending my digital diary to them it’s as if I’m talking to someone and sharing my views, my experience. Because they asked me about my experience, to tell them about what I see out there, about people’s stories. So, I got to get stories, listen to people and do more research.

My experience in the programme, or the diary, broadened my knowledge on migration. It helped me do a lot of research on Youtube, Tiktok and Google, searching for many things. I followed many people online that preach about how travelling legally is better. And that when you travel illegally, there are consequences. I had this friend who was telling me that she’s in the Middle East, and another friend in North America was telling me that she does a cleaning job that pays enough. But from the research I did, I know that nothing like that exists. I learned so many things. It was an opportunity to know more instead of going that wrong route; to know more about what I want to do. 

I don’t know if it’s the relationship, but I tell the interviewer things I don’t even tell people around me, and I was always excited to send my recordings to them, as they really appreciated it. But I feel that maybe they could have sent the interviewer here, to gather some people together, and sit down and talk. With that you know how the person is feeling. Is the person sad, is the person happy, you know?

Q: How did the process of being part of this project have an effect on your personal migration story?

Felicity: By this time, I was hoping that I would go meet my friend in the Middle East or the one in North America, who told me: “the person bringing you there is going to fund all your bills and you are going to pay for two years or so”. And you know, I believed all that. Doing the research changed my mentality, because I was actually ready to sell my things in the house this year just to go that way. And with the stories that I’ve heard and the things that I’ve watched, I don’t think I want to go that route. 

Q: How do you feel this type of research should be conducted?

Felicity: It’s very important, first, to know the policies surrounding migration. Then, you should speak to aspirants and those who have migrated. You should speak to them to know what they pass through. If you study migrants, you should also hear from them. Many migrants, after migration, they send them back. They are not acting the way they used to act. They are distressed people. And still, they always want to go back. I don’t know why that is. What is really in their head? 

Q: What sorts of outcomes do you expect to come from this type of research?

Felicity: With the answers you got, I feel you can maybe write an article or a book, maybe for countries where people want to migrate. You help them, enlighten them on aspiring migrants and those who have migrated. And for aspiring migrants, to let them know that the only trusted way to leave their country is through the legal means, not through the desert route or sea routes. Preach it around, because many people don’t know, and even when they know, they are so convinced and other people convince them to do it. You can teach it in your universities; maybe you can teach it as a course.

*The interviewee’s real name has been modified, and any identifying or location markers were removed, altered or generalised to protect their privacy. Ethics procedures were followed throughout the interview series, with approval from the interviewees and guidance and/or approval from the project managers, researchers, independent ethics advisors and data protection officers of the three projects. The interview was edited for length and clarity, while preserving as much of the original phrasing as possible.