Hello Europe is on tour!

Insights and ideas from across the continent on migration and change

Hello Europe is hitting the road. The world has changed and so has the landscape around migration. So, we’ve decided to shake things up a bit. After years of bringing social innovation to the migration space, we're now bringing the stories, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of those on the frontlines of migration to Ashoka’s vibrant community of changemakers. This tour isn’t just about sharing insights; it’s about sparking new conversations and hearing from you. What are you seeing? What are you hearing? What’s working, and what needs to change?

As we go, we’ll gather perspectives, share what we learn, and use that knowledge to fuel fresh initiatives. We're all in this together, and we want to build something that makes real change possible.

The Hello Europe Tour’s first stop: Austria

Hello Europe Tour’s journey begins in Vienna, where the story of Hello Europe first took root in 2015, originally known as Ideegration. It’s a city that reflects the complexities of migration today: home to a significant migrant and refugee population, yet also a place where the conversation around migration is divided.

Co-hosted by Ashoka Hello Europe, Ashoka Austria and the Razumovsky Forum, the in-person event featured inspiring speakers, including Aljeen Hasan, Gonzalo Fanjul, Judith Kohlenberger, Laura Batalla, and Kenny Clewett . We invited 50 passionate leaders: changemakers, business leaders, policymakers, social entrepreneurs, media professionals, and academics, all ready to dive deep into the issue.

Key insights from Vienna

From the start, Gonzalo Fanjul framed the discussion around the way migration if often politically constructed:

“For years, nationalist xenophobic parties have framed migration as (a) a problem, (b) something unsolvable, and (c) a source of chaos if left unchecked. The reality is quite different: migration has always existed, it is part of who we are, and while it cannot be stopped, it can be managed far more effectively. The real challenge is that many governments—whether intentionally or not—have reinforced this narrative by focusing obsessively on physical borders (where only a small percentage of migrants enter) and adopting security-heavy measures that create an illusion of disorder. Now, anti-migration parties point to this ‘chaos’ as proof of their claims, completing a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

This is the kind of thinking we want to challenge on this tour. What if, instead of seeing migration as a problem to be controlled, we saw it as a source of innovation and progress?

As Kenny Clewett put it:

“We have seen incredible creativity and innovation emerging from communities across Europe. While much of the focus has been on providing direct support to migrants, what often gets overlooked is how migration can be a driver of social innovation. Our challenge now is to sustain and scale these initiatives, ensuring they have a lasting impact.”

1. The narrative around migration needs a total overhaul

It’s clear: the times are tough. The narratives around migration are getting darker, and policies seem to be heading in the wrong direction. Despite the growing need for workers and a healthier population, fear and resistance continue to rise. This is not a problem that can be fixed with the same old strategies. It’s time for something new—something unexpected.

Building unlikely partnerships will be crucial. The way forward isn’t just about facts; it’s about stories, and most importantly, it’s about connecting with people’s emotions.

As Aljeen Hasan emphasized, media plays a defining role in shaping public opinion:

”The way migration is covered in the media has a huge impact on public perception. Too often, migrants are framed as a problem rather than as people contributing to society. We need to shift this narrative by highlighting success stories and showing the reality beyond the headlines.”

2. Community and unlikely partnerships are the heart of change

We continue to hear this loud and clear: collaboration is key. We’ve got some great policies on paper, and there are plenty of ideas about how things could improve, but none of them will work without deep, meaningful collaboration across all kinds of groups.

Cities, labor unions, migrant-led organizations, multinational companies, media, and social entrepreneurs—they all need to come together, break out of their silos, and create new solutions. These partnerships can help build a more inclusive society and support communities that are resisting harmful narratives.

As Judit Kohlenberger emphasized:

”We need to break out of our silos. Migration isn’t just about policy or economics—it’s about society as a whole. The more we collaborate across sectors, the more we can move from endless discussions to real action. This is about building bridges, not walls.”

3. The power of personal stories and “love narratives”

The most powerful insights came from the people with lived experience—migrants themselves. We need to “pass the mic” to those who are often left out of the conversation.

Personal stories have the power to shift perceptions and inspire change. Migrant entrepreneurs, in particular, are often the most creative and effective in solving problems for their communities, yet they are still underfunded and underrepresented.

“We need to stop seeing migrants as passive recipients of aid and instead recognize their role as active changemakers," said Kenny Clewett. Every migrant has the potential to contribute, innovate, and lead, but only if we create an environment where they can thrive."
4. Let’s dream bigger—and build the future we want

It’s not enough to react to the negative narratives out there. We need to create a new, positive vision for the future. That’s what Hello World has been pushing with the idea that "every migrant is a changemaker."

What does a future look like where migration is embraced as a strength? A world where migrants aren’t seen as burdens, but as active contributors to society?

As Laura Batalla explained:

"One of the biggest challenges is ensuring migration policy is shaped by those working on real solutions. Instead of focusing on what doesn’t work, we need to elevate what does. When policymakers see the tangible impact of social innovation, they are more willing to engage and support change."
Challenges for the road ahead

Before we left Vienna, we posed three challenges to the crowd, and we’re sharing them with you too:

Connect with each other and build communities. Migration is a collective issue, and it will take a collective effort to create lasting change.
Bring these insights home. Can you “pass the mic” to someone with a migrant background? Can you start an unlikely partnership with someone from another sector and see where it leads?
Join the Hello Europe community. Hello Tour is just the beginning. As we continue our journey, we want to hear from you. Share your thoughts, insights, and stories with us, and let’s build something together.

Next stop: London

The Hello Europe Tour continues in London on March 5th, where we’ll dive into migration issues specific to Wales and the UK. If you're in London, come join the conversation! Let’s keep the dialogue going and explore new possibilities together.

Click here to see the event details, meet the speakers, and reserve your spot.

Reflection questions:

As we continue on our journey, we encourage you to think about these questions and share your thoughts with us:

How can we change the narrative around migration to empower migrants as changemakers?
What are the most effective ways to build inclusive communities that support migrants?
How can we create “unlikely partnerships” to tackle migration challenges?

Let’s stay connected

The Hello Europe Tour is just one part of a larger movement, aimed at rethinking migration as a force for good. Join us, stay engaged, and share your ideas with the Hello Europe community. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our ongoing initiatives, reach out to us.
Help us celebrate impactful changemakers by nominating a changemaker for migration here.
Uncover our visionary framework of four paradigms emerging in the field of migration.
Sign up for Hello Europe Community and other communication here.