students of the Iberoamerican University of Torreón designed a ‘migrant backpack’, with the aim of “lightening the load” of those who cross Mexico on their way to reach the United States. Despite their good intentions, the young women have received a wave of criticism on social networks to the point of going viral, as they are accused of being insensitive, classist and racist.
The controversial invention was born as a school project of three industrial design students. It is a backpack “Inspired by the journey of thousands of people to reach their destination,” the creators explain in a video.
“What we are looking for is to lighten the way but above all that they do not feel alone and be able to carry their belongings in a more secure way,” said one of the designers when presenting the controversial product.
They point out that the backpack “was created by and for the migrant community, who travels from Central and South America to the border with the United States and Mexico, hoping to get the opportunities that they did not get in their country. However, they do not explain how the migrant community collaborated in the project.
This is the “backpack for migrants” designed by the Mexican students
In a three-minute clip, the students from Ibero Torreón explain that they modified a conventional backpack and added “additions for them.”
Next, the young women detail the characteristics of the ‘backpack for migrants’:
- Since “it is designed for families”, the backpack has “three handles that serve to make it easier for children to get on the train”.
- They modified the shoulder pads or straps to add a bib that fits better to the body, “so that when running they don’t run with extra weight.”
- It has an exterior compartment to store important documents, “so that they are separated”. Inside it also has “a small division to separate their clothes and their food.”
- The front bag is a detachable fanny pack with several compartments, which can be detached “in case you need something smaller for this trip”.
- They added a reflective strip “that helps migrants find each other in the dark.” But they clarify that “if they need to be more discreet they can cover it, so as not to stand out.”
- The backpack comes inside a larger bag for storage. “And when the backpack is inside, empty, it can function as a pillow in case they need to sleep outdoors,” they highlighted.
- It is made “with 100% recycled, donated, nylon fabric material, and that greatly reduces the cost of production.”
- It is delivered with a user manual “so that they take proper care with their backpack.
- It includes a message for migrants, which they describe as “a storytelling how this will be their new traveling companion who will help them”.
The controversial Ibero backpack, the target of viral criticism
The video, just over 3 minutes long, was originally posted on the institution’s TikTok account, but has since been removed. However, nothing really disappears from the internet.
“If you want to go to the United States, don’t forget to buy your backpack for the migrant,” they wrote ironically from the Twitter account ‘Fugitives from folic acid’, which took up the clip to share it with their followers.
The video went viral in a matter of hours, with 4.3 million views at press time, but not for the best of reasons.
Some Internet users recognized the effort of the girls to try to collaborate on a social problem such as the migration crisis in Mexico. However, the vast majority of Internet users have strongly criticized the project.
“The perception of reality well altered… Because for them crossing the border under the implicit conditions is like going camping, that’s why you need a special backpack,” wrote one user.
Many users have described both the students and Ibero Torreón as “insensitive”, “classist” and “racist”, for presenting and approving this type of approach.
“Use manual for the backpack… This is the clearest example of what it is like to live in a bubble and also not make an effort to get out of there”, “I don’t dislike the backpack, I dislike the lack of empathy”, “Awareness, of they should receive classes for that”, are some of the messages circulating on social networks.
“People doing projects outside of their social bubble. Watching documentaries is not the same as living with the need to migrate. It is not against them, it is against their parents for not sensitizing this type of people”, pointed out an Internet user.
Editorial Team The editorial team of EMPRENDEDOR.com, which for more than 27 years has worked to promote entrepreneurship.