Dear Honours students,

In April, a group of us embarked on an incredible journey to Malta to explore a topic deeply woven into the island’s identity: migration. Thanks to the support of the Honours community, this trip allowed us to build new connections with friends, locals, and academics, all while conducting interviews and shooting footage for our Research Seminar Project which is a documentary. Our goal was to see how different forms of migration have influenced Malta’s culture.

Our first day began at the University of Malta, where we had the opportunity to speak with professors and scholars. They graciously shared their research and knowledge, providing us with the information, concepts, and context needed to understand the island’s geopolitical realities. We were pleased to find that these insights connected to our real-world experiences as we moved from the university environment into fieldwork.

We visited several locations specific to our research topics, including local museums, historical archives, a football academy dedicated to migrants, and even Popeye Village. Exploring these spaces allowed us to grasp incredibly diverse perspectives on our topic. For instance, hearing the unique blend of Arabic and Italian influences in the Maltese language and seeing how football serves as a tool for integration provided us with interesting insights. These experiences have been important for our documentary.