By Paz Coliguante / Translated by Adriana Serrano
Migration is more than a physical displacement; it is an act filled with dreams, sacrifices, and hopes. For many people, migration means leaving what is familiar behind to search for a better life, facing challenges that only those who experience it can understand.
Why do people migrate?
The reasons for migration are diverse and complex. Among the most common are:
Economic: The search for better job opportunities and living conditions.
Violence and persecution: Escaping armed conflict, structural violence, or political persecution.
Climate change: Phenomena such as droughts, floods, or hurricanes that destroy homes and livelihoods.
Family: Reunification with loved ones already in a different country.
Latin America: A region on the move
In 2024, about 48.3 million people in Latin America and the Caribbean lived outside their countries of birth, representing 16% of the world’s migrant population.
The United States remains the main destination, but intraregional migration has grown strongly: today, almost a third of Latin American migrants are moving within the region, seeking stability and new opportunities in neighboring countries such as Chile, Argentina, Mexico, or Brazil.
Voices from the road
Last week, we at the Entre Soles y Lunas Foundation spoke with migrants walking through downtown Santiago, in Chile. Their words reflect deep emotions, diverse realities, and one constant: the dignity with which they face daily life.
“Although I’m fine here, I always miss my country. It’s not ungratefulness, it’s nostalgia.” Claudia (Colombia)
“I would like them to understand that I always try to adapt and contribute with a positive attitude.” Sandra (Ecuador)
“I would like them to discover the richness of Peruvian culture, our traditions, history, and the pride we feel for our roots.” Giovanna (Peru)
These voices remind us that migration is not oblivion, but to carry one’s roots wherever life leads. It is building bridges between cultures, enriching the new environment , and facing prejudices with resilience and respect.
Children, families, and new roots
One in four migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean is a child. Many arrive accompanied by their families, but there are also those who cross borders alone, driven solely by the desire to reunite or to survive. Migration, in all its forms, deserves a supportive, humane, and rights-based response.
A call to empathy
Migration is not a threat. It is an opportunity to get to know each other, to grow as a society, and to embrace the diversity in our cities. Listening to migrants is the first step towards breaking down stigmas and opening our hearts to new ways of seeing the world.
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