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A co-sponsored event between the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research, the Harriet Tubman Institute, and the CITY Institute.

Rural-urban migration among adolescents in the Global South is often explained through narrow economic frameworks that emphasize poverty and household survival. Drawing on qualitative data from adolescents who migrated from rural areas to urban centers, this paper examines the multiple, socially embedded factors shaping adolescent migration decisions. The findings reveal that migration is driven not only by livelihood insecurity linked to poor harvests and unpredictable weather, but also by adolescents’ forward-looking aspirations related to education, vocational training, and preparation for socially recognized transitions into adulthood. Adolescents described migrating to earn money for school necessities, vocational apprenticeships, and marriage-related items such as cooking utensils and household containers, highlighting migration as a strategic investment in future social and economic roles. Gendered expectations were particularly evident, with girls’ migration closely tied to preparation for marriage and domestic responsibility. In addition, kinship networks and social relationships played a central role, as some adolescents migrated following invitations from friends or relatives to provide childcare or domestic assistance. Experiences of emotional strain and difficult living conditions at home further shaped migration decisions. By situating adolescent migration within a life-course and social reproduction framework, the paper argues that adolescents are active agents negotiating structural constraints, family obligations, and culturally defined expectations of responsibility. The study challenges reductive push-factor models and calls for policy and scholarly approaches that recognize adolescent migration as a complex social process shaped by environmental change, education systems, gender norms, and kinship relations.

Speaker Profile

Sylvia Esther Gyan (PhD) is an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Ghana, with over a decade of experience in teaching and research. Currently, she is a visiting Professor at the Department of Sociology, Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies, York University. Her primary research interest lies in the Sociology of Health, specialising in adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Her work also encompasses Family Demography, Gender, Ageing, Climate Change, and Migration, with particular focus on how structural inequalities influence women's well-being throughout their lives. Much of her research investigates women in vulnerable situations in the Global South, offering a comparative perspective on how health, gender, and family dynamics intersect with race, ethnicity, and migration to create inequalities.

Join us on Thursday, March 5 at 2 p.m. ET

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How do health systems adapt when governance is shared across federal, provincial, territorial, and Indigenous governments? How do advocates navigate the complexity of Indigenous health policy in Canada, where jurisdictional boundaries, cultural priorities, and reconciliation commitments converge?

Dr. Sandra Romain brings extensive experience in policy development, health transformation, and intergovernmental relations. Drawing on real-world examples, she will explore collaborative strategies, systemic barriers, and policy innovations that shape health outcomes for Indigenous communities.

Attendees will gain a critical understanding of governance challenges and practical approaches to advancing equity and culturally grounded solutions in health policy.

In preparation for this seminar, Dr. Romain has recommended reading the Inuit Nunangat Policy.

PDF Copies and citations of recommended readings for this seminar and all others for the semester can be found here.

Speaker Profile

Sandra Romain is a Medical Anthropologist and senior policy leader in the Government of Canada, specializing in Indigenous and Inuit health. She has held leadership roles at Indigenous Services Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, where she advanced strategic policy initiatives in public health and economic reconciliation. Her work includes intergovernmental collaboration on the National Inuit Suicide Prevention Strategy, tuberculosis elimination, vaccine confidence and Indigenous entrepreneurship programs.

Dr. Romain’s research and policy experience emphasize culturally informed approaches to health systems and governance. She has published widely on Indigenous health and pharmaceutical care in remote communities and serves on national research ethics boards.

Register below and join us on Wednesday, April 1, at 1:00 p.m. ET

RSVP