Doctoral Candidate in project 2 - Winnie Kyamulabi
Winnie Kyamulabi will do a dual degree with Aarhus University and Makerere University.
My PhD research, Digital Mediation of Care Across Distance: Climate-Driven Migration and the Elderly Left Behind in Eastern Uganda, will explore how digital technologies are transforming caregiving relationships in the context of climate-induced migration. As environmental pressures increasingly affect rural livelihoods, many working-age adults migrate in search of economic opportunities, leaving older family members behind. This study will examine how mobile phones, social media platforms, and digital remittance services facilitate care across distance, shaping emotional connections, caregiving practices, access to resources, and health outcomes among elderly populations.
Situated at the intersection of the anthropology of health, migration studies, climate change, aging, and digital communication, the research seeks to understand how families adapt to social and environmental change through technology-mediated care. My interest in this project was informed by more than five years of professional experience working with communities affected by climate-related livelihood disruptions, providing valuable insights into the ways migration is reshaping family dynamics and support systems.
Funded under the HEALENAE Project 2: Climate Change, Migration, and Care for the Elderly, this project contributes to broader discussions on health, mobility, and environmental change by generating community-centered and evidence-based perspectives and understanding of how climate and migration challenges influence the wellbeing of older adults across Africa and Europe.