HANOI, 19 December 2024 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) launched the talk show "Every Step: Inspiration on the Move" today to celebrate International Migrants Day 2024. The event sought to empower young people to raise their voices and create the more balanced narrative of migration. Over 200 migrants, youth representatives, international organizations and notable guests – including the representatives from the Government of Viet Nam – attended the event.

According to IOM, of the world's 281 million migrants, 87 million or about 31 per cent are under the age of 30. Migration and youth are inseparable, fostering a vibrant mix of change and new opportunities.  

IOM's Chief of Mission, Kendra Rinas, said, “The talk show aims to contribute to the efforts of the Government of Viet Nam to promote safe, orderly and regular migration by providing a platform for youth, including young migrants, to exchange knowledge and share experiences on the benefits of migration. It is a great opportunity to highlight the diverse challenges associated with each journey, inspire people to raise their voices, promote safe migration pathways and deliver the promise of well-managed migration."

The talk show  also featured remarkable individuals such as Huynh Nhu, a trailblazer who led the Viet Nam Women's National Football team to the World Cup 2023 and became the first female player from Viet Nam to sign a contract with a foreign football club. Another notable panelist was Hao Tran, who made the extraordinary decision to leave his promising career in the United States to return to Viet Nam and reconnect with his roots. Additionally, the event also heard  the inspiring story of a popular content creator and young mother who migrated to Canada, found her voice through social media and now inspires thousands of young people while bridging Canadian and Vietnamese cultures.

Notably, the event received valuable recommendations from young participants, who shared effective strategies on how to incorporate youth voices in the Government's safe migration plans.

In addressing the complexities of migration Rinas highlighted the importance of youth participation, “These young people are the future leaders of our society. Their voices, ideas and actions are crucial in shaping migration policies and strategies, pushing Viet Nam closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.”

For media enquiries, please contact:

Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Tram, IOM Viet Nam, Tel: +84 (0) 912893964, Email: ngocnguyen@iom.int .