POSTPONED: Promoting sustainable livelihoods

Join this event to hear Grace Spencer and Jill Thompson explore possibilities for empowerment of young migrants in Ghana.

Increases in global migration in recent times has prompted concerns about the socio-economic, health and environmental implications of mobility, and migration is often framed as a contemporary social challenge – despite evidence of the opportunities it affords individuals, communities and countries. Yet the experiences of young people who migrate independently of adults have been relatively under-explored. Young migrants often display their independence and autonomy as they self-navigate new contexts and experiences – blurring dominant constructions of childhood/adulthood. 

In this seminar, Grace and Jill will share insights from a qualitative study focusing on the lives and livelihoods of young migrants aged 15-24 years (internal and international) in Ghana and the possibilities for understanding empowerment. 

The findings highlight the ways young migrants construct migration as an opportunity for a better life – irrespective of the significant socio-economic challenges they face. Navigating precarious work and living situations often resulted in the ongoing mobilities of young people as they actively sought opportunities to ‘move out of’ poverty. Investigating ongoing youth mobilities prompts new ethical and methodological challenges – calling on us to rethink how best to conduct research with young people who are frequently on the move.

This event will be particularly useful for those interested in migration, young people's livelihoods, inequalities and empowerment in youth-centred approaches.

Please note that this is a hybrid event and can be joined either in-person or virtually.

Related links

• Thomas Coram Research Unit (TCRU)
• TCRU seminar series
• Social Research Institute
• Research with Young Migrants in Ghana