Hiraeth post-pandemic: about the importance of home | Jonathan Evershed | TEDxAberystwyth

TL;DR

Reflecting on the concept of home in Wales amidst Brexit, COVID, and the brain drain, highlighting the importance of reshaping communities.

Transcript

I want to offer today some thoughts on uh home to talk about what the idea of home means to me and what thinking about home thinking from the idea of home might do for political social and economic transformation in Wales I've spent my adult life moving um I grew up here uh while just north of here I grew up on a sheep farm between clar and both uh... Read More

Key Insights

• 👪 Brexit and COVID have prompted a deeper reflection on the idea of home and identity.
• 😀 Rural West Wales faces challenges of brain drain due to economic disparities.
• 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Wales showcases creative solutions and resilience in reshaping communities.
• 🧠 Empowering communities to shape their futures is essential for overcoming the brain drain.
• 👪 The concept of remaking home involves actively engaging with the past, present, and future.
• 🧠 Policies supporting public transport, affordable housing, and community empowerment can combat the brain drain.
• 👷 Home is not just a physical place but also a social and emotional construct.

Questions & Answers

Q: How has Brexit and COVID impacted the speaker's perspective on home?

Brexit and COVID prompted the speaker to reflect on what home means, facing challenges of limited movement during lockdown and barriers to connectivity due to political and economic changes.

Q: What are the reasons behind the brain drain in rural West Wales?

The brain drain in rural West Wales is driven by factors such as poor digital infrastructure, low wages, high house prices, and the proliferation of second homes, leading to a decline in young people staying in the region.

Q: How are communities in Wales responding to the challenges of the brain drain?

Communities in Wales are finding creative solutions to promote social enterprises, improve connectivity, and empower residents to shape their futures, emphasizing a new foundational politics of place.

Q: What is the speaker's perspective on the concept of brain drain and remaking home?

The speaker challenges the notion of brain drain, advocating for a proactive approach to staying, remaking home, and fostering community resilience, urging a shift towards policies that support local empowerment.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker shares their personal journey of constantly moving and seeking home, reflecting on the impact of Brexit and COVID on perceptions of home.

• They discuss the brain drain affecting rural West Wales, leading to a decline in young people due to economic challenges and lack of opportunities.

• Despite challenges, the speaker emphasizes the resilience and creative solutions emerging in Wales to reshape communities and redefine the idea of home.