Yesterday’s online webinar focused on the work currently being developed through Aidez Nous à Aider, with a deeper look at how each project functions on the ground and how they connect to a wider long-term approach to migrant empowerment. The session also introduced early details of the 2026 International Mural Challenge, which will be announced soon.
The discussion was structured around three core pillars of work: creative economic projects, public art activism, and digital skill development.
Sharing our current projects
A big part of the webinar was dedicated to presenting our ongoing work and explaining what it looks like on the ground. We went into detail about how these projects are structured, how they are evolving, and how they directly involve migrants in both decision-making and implementation.
The conversation highlighted how important it is that these are not just projects “for” people, but projects built with the people most affected. We discussed how skills development, creative expression, and practical support all come together in our approach.
There was also strong engagement around how these initiatives can be scaled while staying grounded in real community needs.
One of the first projects we discussed was Merch by Migrants.
We went into detail about how migrants are directly involved in the design process, especially through workshops where they contribute ideas, visual direction, and storytelling for products like shoes and wearable items.
What we discussed clearly was that this is not just a creative exercise. It is a structured process where participants learn how to take an idea from concept to product, while also building practical understanding of design, branding, and product development.
We also spoke about the importance of ownership. The people designing the products are the ones shaping the narrative behind them, and the project is built to ensure their contribution is visible and financially meaningful.
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We also discussed Activism Through Art, and how this project uses murals as a tool for public storytelling.
The focus of this part of the webinar was on how murals are created in collaboration with both artists and migrants, and how they address migration in a way that is visible in public space. Themes we discussed included displacement, climate migration, loss at sea, and human dignity.
A key point we talked through was repetition. The same core imagery is used across multiple countries, not as repetition for its own sake, but to build recognition over time. This creates a consistent visual language that connects different locations and brings migration into public awareness in a more sustained way.
We also discussed how important placement is—these murals exist in everyday environments, meaning people encounter them without needing to actively seek them out.
Another major part of what we discussed was the Online Skill Development program.
We went into detail about how the program is structured around practical digital skills like graphic design, content creation, video editing, and freelancing. It is designed in stages, starting with foundational learning and moving toward portfolio building and real application.
A key point we discussed was that learning is not separated from practice. Participants are encouraged to use their skills within active projects, so they are building experience while contributing to real work at the same time.
We also talked about the mentorship structure, where participants who develop stronger skills begin supporting others. This creates a cycle of learning and progression rather than a one-way training model.
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How These Projects Connect
Throughout the webinar, we kept coming back to how these projects connect with each other.
Merch by Migrants focuses on creative income and ownership. Activism Through Art focuses on visibility and shifting public narratives. Online Skill Development focuses on practical skills and access to digital work opportunities.
We discussed how these are not separate initiatives, but parts of the same system. Each one supports the others—skills feed into creative work, creative work feeds into visibility, and visibility reinforces opportunity.
We also discussed the upcoming 2026 International Mural Challenge, which will be officially announced soon.
This builds directly on Activism Through Art, expanding it to a wider international scale. The idea is to bring together artists, communities, and partners across different countries to create coordinated mural installations focused on migration and human movement. We spoke about how this next phase is about expanding participation and strengthening collaboration between different locations and groups.
More details will be shared soon.
The webinar was really about unpacking what we are already building—how each project works in practice, and how they connect into a larger structure focused on empowerment. What we discussed made one thing clear: these projects are not isolated ideas. They are interconnected systems built around creativity, skills, and access, designed to create real pathways forward.
The recording and further updates will be shared soon.