INSPIRE by SINGA Lyon: 10 years, 10 voices, 10 stories to change the way we look at migration
On June 3rd, at the Salle Molière, SINGA Lyon celebrated its 10th anniversary through the INSPIRE event: a powerful, heartfelt, and committed evening. Ten people – either in exile or locally engaged – took the stage to share their stories, marked by escapes, dreams, struggles, but also strong hopes. A packed room with over 500 people, emotional faces, and a standing audience applauding voices that are often silenced, rarely represented.
Giving the floor to those we don’t hear
After a memorable 2023 edition in Oullins, a new edition of INSPIRE was held in the heart of Lyon, with the support of the City of Lyon, Crédit Mutuel, Saint-Gobain-Chryso, J’accueille, le faitout, and the Lyon Metropolis.
Over four months of preparation, the participants worked on their stories through writing and theatre workshops with the SINGA Lyon team. On June 3rd, they delivered authentic stories — sometimes tough, often moving, always full of light.
“Fleeing is always too fast. Goodbyes should never be taken lightly.” — Shegofa, Afghan actress, exiled from Kabul in 2021.
Embodied stories, a universal message
Among the voices of this edition, Farah, who came from Gaza for her studies and is now unable to return home, delivered a powerful testimony:
“I have always been a resistor. It wasn’t a choice, but an obligation. Saying what I feel is a necessity – for me and for my people.”
Throughout the testimonies, a shared vision emerged: that of a fairer society, where stories of exile are acknowledged in all their humanity and complexity.
INSPIRE does not tell “migration,” but tells about people — their uniqueness, their struggles, their power to act.
When media listen differently
The event was covered by the regional news channel France 3 Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, as part of the 19/20 news by ICI, known for its local focus.
This media coverage confirms that it is possible to talk about migration differently.
“SINGA advocates for accelerating the inclusion of exiled people. Migration, seen as a richness.” — Excerpt from the France 3 report
Not just a stage, a movement
Since 2015, SINGA Lyon has supported the emergence of hundreds of initiatives: entrepreneurship projects, solidarity-based cohabitations, social innovations.
In ten years, over 200 volunteers, a committed team of 14 people, and a board of 10 members have brought this vibrant community to life, deeply rooted in its territory.
Ten years of connections between people from diverse backgrounds. Ten years proving that another narrative is possible — more human, more creative, more open.
The energy of this evening goes beyond June 3rd. It lives on in the looks exchanged, in the will to act, in a Lyon community that is stronger and more united than ever. To learn more about SINGA Lyon, its programs and ways to get involved: https://singalyon.fr
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