Marisa Aranda - Changing Lenses

Marisa Aranda - Changing Lenses

Migrant - definitions

My journey in UK began at Heathrow airport. I was lucky, as sadly many people have to endure dangerous routes to migrate.

Integration - definitions

I see integration as result of the fusion of all our stories, migrants or not, to the point that we become one unique enriched society.

Integration is visible when we cross the same paths and share our sorrows of modern life.

I am very proud of the diverse spectrum of our economic contribution and how it happens at early stages of integration, breaking massive barriers imposed by the process.

Citizenship, powerful result of integration. We can join our voices to fight for common concerns within our communities.

How can anyone be fully integrated? When there are reminders everywhere that our contribution to society has been underestimated, or worse, forgotten.

When fatal mistakes expose that segregation has clearly been used to undermine integration.

Prejudice makes my dignity roll down the stairs, leaving space for a lump in my throat. So just to be sure, after a deep breath I need to remind myself again who I am.

Integration is a long and subjective process with lights on and off, hard to follow, as you must meet other people’s expectations as well as your own.

Gives me hope to see kindness placed right next to barriers, showing that love is more powerful than prejudice.

Despite of all this, we must stay positive.
We know the result of our hard-working efforts is a wiser, stronger and happier society.
 

These photos and accompanying writing were made as part of the Changing Lenses; London stories of Integration project. You can listen to my podcast for the project here: https://soundcloud.com/migrant-voice/marisa-aranda