117 from one informal settlement—where they had established an income source and a support system—to another. Socially, the study introduces the idea of “evictability”—the fear of eviction, which contributes to individuals’ reluctance to invest in their home and participate in local politics. Ultimately, Souch said, “Giving people security in a place to live is absolutely core and fundamental to their life chances once they’ve moved.” Maps Create a Common Language for Change Migrants on the Margins provides insight into how governments can sustainably support migrant communities after people arrive in cities. Existing policies in Colombo, and the other cities the project visited, approach migration as a problem to be addressed. Efforts in Sri Lanka have previously sought to reduce migration, and an urban regeneration program in 2022 aimed to remove settlements and rehouse residents in high-rise apartments. “Root causes for people leaving home are very difficult to deal with; they include long-term problems such as war, conflict, political instability, or climate change,” Collyer said. And, Jayatilaka said, “It makes sense on paper to put people in apartments; it’s safe, more solid, and doesn’t have floods. Humanitarian Assistance But you take people away from their world—they have lives in these communities, and that is lost and changed when they have to move.” One of the study’s key findings centered around individual invisibility versus collective visibility—how worries of eviction prevent individuals from seeking recognition in their community while migrant communities as a whole face public scrutiny. This leaves migrant voices out of policy and planning discussions, the study found, and results in policies that harm migrants and migrant communities. The critical next step of this research is to open the lines of communication for mutual understanding between migrant communities and their neighboring formal settlements. Since the study’s release, the team has held exhibitions and workshops with policymakers, leveraging the imagery and maps to communicate and provide visual evidence of migrants’ lived experiences in Colombo’s informal settlements. “A map can be read by anyone,” Alikhan said. “These maps give citizens and governments a common reference point to communicate not only about geographical features or physical infrastructure, but also people’s connections to each other and to their environment.” Researchers meet with the community in a crowded room. Comics helped the researchers teach youg students about migration patterns, urban growth, and spatial inequalities in cities. (Image courtesy of RGS, © Positive Negatives)
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