Understanding people’s experience of migration (ages 16-19)

Activities to help young people build empathy and understanding towards people with lived experience of migration. Explore why people are forced to flee their homes, recognise the common humanity we share, and take action to help people feel welcome.

Age:: 16-19, ks4
Subjects:: PSHE, SMSC, Citizenship
Topics:: Kindness, Refugees and migration
Type:: Activities

This resource has been developed as part of Humankind, our professional development programme for teachers, created with expert guidance on humanitarian and life issues.

Download the resource

Understanding people's experience of migration (ages 16-19) - PPT

The VOICES Network: learning about refugees from people with lived experience

This resource was made in collaboration with ambassadors from the VOICES Network, a collective of refugees and people seeking asylum. As people with lived experience of migration, the VOICES ambassadors share unique insights into what it’s like to seek asylum in the UK. The activities were designed by the ambassadors and include some of their own stories of migration.

Watch this video to learn more about what they do

Learning objectives

Learners will:

Learn about the difficult decisions involved in leaving home and experience a real story of displacement.
Apply their knowledge to advocate for people who have migrated.
Share their knowledge and empathy to help refugees and people seeking asylum feel welcome in their community.

Resource overview:

This resource is made up of 6 activities. Read the teacher guide for suggestions on how to deliver these and how you can adapt the activities for different groups. It includes definitions of key terms to help support educators.

1. Starter: What do you see in these photos?

By reflecting on different images of migration, learners will begin to consider why people might flee their homes and the different journeys people might experience.

2. Learn: It’s your decision

Building on the first activity, this interactive video experience allows learners to step into the shoes of someone who has been forced to flee and gain an understanding of the difficult decisions they might face.

3. Learn: Khadeja’s Story

Now that learners have experienced a journey of migration and considered the challenges and dangers involved, Khadeja shares her own story of displacement; a journey from Syria to the UK, using her own words and photography.

4. Apply: The press conference

Learners will consolidate the different perspectives they have explored in an exciting role-play; becoming humanitarian spokespeople and advocating for refugees and people seeking asylum in their community.

Could your young people get involved in creating welcoming communities for refugees? Turn learning into positive action. Using case studies for inspiration, learners will plan an event or activity to help refugees and people seeking asylum feel welcome in their school or local community.

6. Plenary: Revisit the images

The final activity invites learners to revisit the images from the first activity. Having experienced a real story of displacement and considered what that might be like, learners will reflect on what they see in the images now.

Downloads

Teacher Guide: Teacher Guide Understanding Migration 15-19.pdf

Slide Deck: Understanding People's Experiences of Migration (Slides 15-19).pptx

Credit:

This resource was developed in a co-production project by Khadeja (VOICES Network) and the British Red Cross in 2026.

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