Archetypes of Escape #1: “I was in extreme danger where I was (or my family was)”
Includes: political, ethnic and religious violence; threat of conscription; household conflict; violence from land disputes and other violence; violence from
Read moreMiddle East-North Africa
Archetypes of Escape #3: “I want my family to thrive”
Includes: leaning toward improved business opportunities; career advancement; educational opportunities
Read moreArchetypes of Escape #4: “I would like to reunite with my family”
Includes hoping to reunite with children and parents who have already made the journey to Europe or the US.
Read moreGaps in Policies, Chasms for Refugees
By Devang Shah, under the supervision of Kim Wilson.
An open-door policy, free primary education, health care, monthly rations and cash. Sounds like a perfect policy recipe for integration of refugees with their local communities. However, for more than twenty years since Kebri Beyah camp was established, refugees living there are still financially unstable and far from integration. Why are the steps taken by various governmental and non-governmental organisations still proving ineffective? This essay attempts to answer this question by diving into the chasm between policy making and policy implementation for the case of the Somali region in Ethiopia. We will analyze which policies, programs, and initiatives have worked, which have not, and why.
The Impact of Volunteer Employment on Migrant Outcomes: Ugandan Perspective
By Dan Creamer, under the supervision of Kim Wilson.
Formal employment opportunities are limited in Uganda’s economy, especially for migrants and refugees. Considering these barriers, “volunteer” jobs represent a crucial vehicle for migrants to gain new skills, build their networks, gain access to future opportunities, and even earn reasonable wages. This essay seeks to show the importance of volunteer positions for migrants, how these opportunities differ between Kampala and the Bidi Bidi Refugee Camp, and whether these volunteer opportunities are privileging specific demographic groups.
Origins and Outcomes: Migrant Integration in Uganda
By Dan Creamer, under the supervision of Kim Wilson.
In the United States, the postal code of one’s birthplace predicts more about one’s future than nearly any other factor. While interviewing refugees in Kampala and Bidi Bidi Camp, I found a parallel observation in which specific details of a refugee’s origin could predict their outcomes, particularly economic and locational outcomes. Refugees from similar places of origin tend to settle in similar locales. While this finding may be obvious to refugees and development organizations, the deterministic elements of a refugee’s place of origin do not seem to influence programming in the Uganda refugee context.