FNF TÜRKİYE @BERLIN

One Migration, One Story, One Object: A Workshop on Memory, Identity, and Migration

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF) Türkiye Office, in collaboration with the Media and Migration Association (MMA), hosted a meaningful event in Berlin titled “One Migration, One Story, One Object.” Centered around the themes of migration, identity, and memory, the workshop brought participants together through personal narratives and shared experiences. It provided a powerful platform to reflect on the cultural diversity of Berlin and amplify the voices of migrants.

Participants included individuals of Turkish descent and other migrant backgrounds living in Germany, as well as media professionals, academics, and civil society representatives. The event was structured in two main parts.

The first segment, titled “One Migration, One Object,” invited participants to reflect on and share an object of symbolic significance in their migration journey. Everyday items such as phone booths, old radios, coffee mugs, ID cards, and Turkish TV series served as memory triggers. Through these personal belongings, participants shared how migration has shaped their sense of belonging and personal memory. This interactive session, framed as a “Memory Touch Game,” encouraged emotional connection and empathy by bridging past and present experiences.

The second part, Constructing Memory Through Narratives, focused on three core themes that emerged from in-depth interviews:

• Building Connections: Intergenerational memory transfer through sound, radio, and family ties

• Reconnecting: The role of media (especially Turkish TV shows) in constructing cultural identity

• Layered Belonging: Exploring the interplay between place, memory, and identity in the migrant experience

Throughout the session, participants also reflected on media representation both empowering and exclusionary. Discussions addressed how societal stereotypes are reproduced, how media fosters cultural belonging, and whether identity is a fixed anchor or a fluid, negotiated narrative space.

The stories shared during the workshop made it clear that migration is not just a statistical phenomenon; it is an emotional and cultural journey. This creative and interactive experience offered a valuable opportunity to better understand the personal and collective memory surrounding migration.

We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to making this meaningful exchange possible.