IOM Exhibition in Geneva Highlights the Power of Migration to Transform Lives

Geneva, 1 July 2025 - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is proud to announce the opening of a new exhibition along Geneva's iconic Quai Wilson, titled Strengthening Resilience, Transforming Lives. Open to the public from 1 July to 3 August 2025, the exhibition features a virtual platform and is presented by the IOM Development Fund, with contributions from the Enterprise Development Fund and IOM Goodwill Ambassador Paul Choy.

"Migration is not just about crossing borders. It is about the determination to rebuild, to contribute and to thrive," said IOM Director General Amy Pope. "The people featured in this exhibition have faced real challenges, yet they have found ways to turn ideas into businesses and businesses into opportunities, not just for themselves, but for those around them. Their stories remind us what is possible when people are given the chance to start over."

Displayed across 30 large-scale double-sided panels, the exhibition focuses on how entrepreneurship can support recovery, strengthen communities, and offer durable solutions for displaced people. It sheds light on the ways in which host communities, potential migrants, migrants, and returnees are building businesses, creating jobs, and contributing to local development.

The people featured come from a wide range of countries and contexts, each bringing a story of resilience and initiative. Visitors are invited to discover the personal journeys of entrepreneurs from Bangladesh, Cabo Verde, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Iraq, Lebanon, the Marshall Islands, Pakistan, Paraguay and Türkiye.

Each of them received support through the IOM Development Fund and IOM's Enterprise Development Fund. The former backed pilot initiatives designed for scale, while the latter provides financial and technical assistance to help small and medium-sized businesses grow. Their experiences are documented through striking visuals and interviews captured by IOM missions worldwide and professional photographers, including IOM Goodwill Ambassador Paul Choy.

The exhibition is part of a broader effort by IOM to support sustainable development through migration-focused initiatives. Since its establishment in 2001, the IOM Development Fund has supported more than 1,000 projects in over 125 countries. It provides seed funding to help governments strengthen migration management and pilot innovative ideas.

Complementing this work, IOM's Enterprise Development Fund is an innovative programme that supports livelihoods at the community level through private sector revitalization and economic development by targeting small and medium-sized enterprises, with the objective of post-conflict economic recovery and inclusive economic development.

The exhibition is open to the public along the lakeside between the Bains des Pâquis and Parc Mon Repos, directly across from the Palais Wilson. All panel content is available in English and French, with QR codes linking to a virtual platform where visitors can access videos, photographs, and extended stories, also available in Spanish.

Visit the exhibition: Quai Wilson, Geneva - 1 July to 3 August 2025

Explore online: https://www.iom.int/Zxg

For more information, please visit IOM's Media Centre.