KUWAIT: The United Nations in Kuwait, in collaboration with MBVISION Studios, hosted a workshop on Wednesday at the UN House to mark International Migrants Day, observed annually on December 18. Speaking at the event, Mazen Aboulhosn, Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Kuwait, said the day is an opportunity to highlight the contributions migrants make to the societies in which they live. He noted that these contributions extend beyond financial support to include cultural and social enrichment.
Aboulhosn said there are currently about 304 million migrants worldwide, representing nearly four percent of the global population living outside their countries of origin. He added that remittances sent by migrants to their home countries in 2024 amounted to approximately $905 billion, supporting education, healthcare and basic needs. “Migrants are agents of development,” he said, noting their role in strengthening health and education systems, as well as their growing contributions as entrepreneurs driving innovation and technology. He added that the workshop aimed to share the stories and experiences of migrants living in Kuwait.
Mazen Aboulhosn
“We have more than 10 nationalities represented here today,” Aboulhosn said, explaining that through a creative workshop organized with NB Studio, participants would share how they contribute to society and reflect on their experiences in Kuwait. He also stressed the importance of acknowledging the challenges migrants face globally, underscoring the need for inclusive, safe and orderly migration policies that benefit individuals, societies and countries alike.
Concluding his remarks, Aboulhosn said migrants serve as a bridge between cultures and that diversity should be viewed as a source of richness for host countries. Manal Al-Gharabally, founder and chief executive officer of MBVISION Studios, said it was an honor to host the event at the UN House in celebration of International Migrants Day. She reflected on the studio’s journey from a small local initiative to a global enterprise shaped by diverse cultures, backgrounds and shared dreams.
“Our work became global because of that beautiful mix and shared vision,” she said, adding that the workshop was not only about learning animation techniques, but about contributing, connecting and expressing stories to the world. Al-Gharabally noted that the experience of “trying to fit in” is universal, whether in school, a new country or a new community. “Today, we are not here to try to fit in,” she said. “We are here to celebrate that we already belong, and that we are united as one family.”
