Article
Information has the power to transform lives and open doors to new opportunities. This is precisely what happened to Natália when she moved from Brazil to Germany to advance her career. Over the years, the more reliable information she accessed, the more opportunities she found for her personal and professional development. In a world where fake news and 10-second TikTok videos often dominate the flow of information, and where answers are just a click away, trustworthy content has the power to significantly expand people’s horizons. With this in mind, Natália asked herself, “Why not share the information I’ve already gathered to help empower other migrants in Germany to shape their own paths?”
This question led to the creation of The Belonging Platform, a virtual space currently hosted on Instagram that is dedicated to sharing reliable information about opportunities, education, local regulations, the healthcare system, and more. The platform’s mission is to empower individuals and inspire them to use this information to shape their own journeys as migrants in Germany. Beyond simply disseminating information, The Belonging Platform approaches its work through a human rights-based approach. It prioritizes inclusive and respectful language, striving to reflect the diversity and uniqueness found within the social landscape. Although Natália had a privileged experience as a migrant in Germany, she reached out to a wide range of migrants and refugees to gain a broader understanding of their needs and the challenges they face. Through conversation circles with these groups, she discovered that migrants’ needs are not only diverse but also deeply complex and multifaceted. This insight posed a challenge: how could such layered topics be addressed within a single platform? To focus her efforts more effectively, Natália developed an online survey based on the key themes that had emerged from the discussions. The survey aimed to identify which subtopics needed more attention and should be prioritized for content creation. Guided by the survey responses, she has since been creating informative posts designed to strengthen the pathways and expand the opportunities available for migrants living in Germany.
Project Development
After recognizing the need for better access to information among migrants in Germany, Natália began her project by researching the types of information that could be most useful. This initial stage involved exploring a wide range of topics relevant to migrants, such as health insurance, learning opportunities and taxes. As a second step, she organized conversation circles with migrants and refugees living in Ulm. These discussions broadened her perspective and helped her to prioritize certain topics. To her surprise, Natália discovered that the needs and experiences of migrants are not only diverse but also multidimensional. Drawing on insights from these conversations, she proceeded to the third step of developing a detailed questionnaire to inform more targeted research. The questionnaire was structured around five main themes: Work and Career in Germany, the German healthcare system, the German language, the German educational system and childcare, and laws and rules in Germany.
The fourth step of the project involves an ongoing process of researching and gathering reliable information to share. This step runs parallel to the others, as data collection continues while new topics are prioritized. The sources used include academic articles, annual reports from international organizations and NGOs, guidelines from German government agencies, national laws, and reputable newspapers. In the fifth stage, Natália created the project’s visual identity. The name “Belonging” inspired the logo and branding of the initiative, which now has a dedicated Instagram page where all content is shared. Finally, the sixth phase involves disseminating information publicly through the Belonging Platform on Instagram. Informative texts, videos and graphics are posted, always using inclusive and respectful language to ensure all individuals feel represented and welcomed. Although the project has now officially launched, its steps do not follow a strict linear sequence. Rather, they are interconnected and continuously evolving. Research, data collection and content sharing are all ongoing, mutually reinforcing processes, as Natália gathers new insights and reaches more people.
Next Steps
The next steps of the project include continuing to circulate the questionnaire, allowing more and more migrants and refugees to share their experiences and needs in Germany. This ongoing input helps Natália gain a deeper understanding of the most essential information to be shared. In parallel, the collection of new information and further research remains a continuous process, carried out alongside the regular sharing of content on The Belonging Platform’s Instagram page. What began as a personal initiative driven by a migrant’s desire to adapt to a new country still has significant potential for further development and impact.
