CENTRE for LATIN AMERICAN
RESEARCH and DOCUMENTATION

This PhD research centers on understanding the new configurations of social fabric made in Moravia, a self-built neighborhood in Medellín, Colombia, by centralizing the lived experiences of new-comer Venezuelan migrants in the neighborhood, through the participatory method of photovoice. Photovoice is a powerful, community-based approach that empowers participants to document and share their perspectives through photography. Over five months, from January to June 2024, fourteen Venezuelan migrants living in different sectors of Moravia collaborated in this project, capturing the essence of their lives in a neighborhood most of them can now – temporarily – call home.

​

Through the photovoice method, participants shared their challenges, aspirations, and reflections, resulting in a rich tapestry of images that reveal the layers of their migration journeys. Each photograph, taken by participants themselves, serves as a visual narrative of both the comfort and discomfort found in their surroundings. The images convey a mixture of personal memories, cultural dissonances, and moments of beauty or tension in daily life—making visible the complexities of adapting to life in a new environment while holding onto their Venezuelan heritage.

​

Beyond simply showcasing life in Moravia, this project contributes to the wider discourse on migration, identity, and social fabric in the context of self-built neighborhoods in Latin American cities. Photovoice offers a platform where participants’ voices are not only seen but also heard, encouraging dialogue and understanding between diverse communities. By involving participants directly, this approach highlights the importance of building grounded theory, by departing from the stories of participants in the further scientific analysis of the case.

The exhibition of the photovoice project invited viewers to engage thoughtfully with these narratives and reflect on the universal themes of forced displacement and belonging. The collection of photographs weaves together individual stories into a broader conversation on the challenges of migrant communities settling in underprivileged urban areas. By presenting this visual and emotional journey in Moravia’s Centre for Cultural Development, the was aim to foster empathy among long-time Colombian residents of Moravia, bridge cultural gaps, and deepen insights into the layered experiences of new-comer migrants in the neighborhood.

 

The photographic exhibition will travel onto the second field site in the neighborhood of La Carpio in San José, Costa Rica, where it will be shown with the added material from that case-study at the end of June 2025. Finally, the complete exhibition will be shown in Amsterdam in 2026.