August 1, 2024  - “Hive Voices” is an initiative of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) that empowers young people to disseminate content on safe migration through creativity and knowledge.

The first edition of “Hive Voices” was a virtual camp co-facilitated by IOM and Hamable Consultants that brought together 28 participants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama and the Dominican Republic in July 2024.

Through interactive sessions, the youth teams received training on creating audiovisual content for Instagram reels and TikTok, the basics of public speaking, storytelling, and personal empowerment.

In this way, the participants acquired the necessary tools to create their videos from start to finish: from writing a good script, recording their original material and editing the final video. In addition, this regional activity promoted cultural exchange and social interactions that allowed participants to reflect on the migratory context of each country.

After completing this training process, the youth recognized the power of their voice, and the value of creating content to amplify messages with social impact that build positive narratives around safe migration and social inclusion. “My experience at Hive Voices has been transformative and enriching (...) Learning about storytelling and discovering the power of my own voice has been an inspiring journey. The collaboration with professionals and peers from various countries has not only broadened my perspective on migration but has also given me the necessary tools to create content that truly impacts and sensitizes our audience” - Noemy Gonzalez, Think Twice ambassador from Panama.

The videos were shared on the social networks of Somos Colmena, IOM's virtual community that disseminates Communication for Development actions. You can access the video published by the El Salvador team here.

In order to ensure the sustainability of this activity, participants of this virtual camp will be encouraged to continue sharing content, and it is expected that more ambassadors of the C4D Communication for Development strategies, including Think Twice, Ties that Bring Us Together, and Life Journey, will receive this training to disseminate knowledge with their peers, so more young people will share content organically on social networks. In this way, the ambassador role will formally integrate the coverage and visibility of C4D field events on social networks in key communities in the region.

“Hive Voices” contributes to Goal 3 of the Global Compact for Safe, Regular and Humane Migration, which promotes access to accurate and timely information at all stages of migration. In addition, this activity is part of IOM's Western Hemisphere Program, which is funded by the Bureau of Population, Migration, and Refuge of the U.S. Department of State.

For more information, please contact Tatiana Chacón, Regional Communication for Development Officer (tchacon@iom.int).