Kids in Need of Defense (KIND)’s Post

NEW BLOG POST! Author S Satish Kumar explores the world of Comparative Literature, and also of comparative lives in the latest blog post on 'Peter Lang et al'. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/e4NTYrU3

Why are comic books and graphic novels important? What can they add to discourse(s) on forced migration and refugee issues? What can they do that other art forms cannot do? Responding to these and related questions are:   ● Helen Patuck, a creative consultant to the UN, illustrator and children's author from the UK. Since founding the non-profit, Kitabna - Our Book CIC in 2014. Helen has written and illustrated several books themed around displacement, and uses storytelling to co-create books with children affected by conflict and forced migration to share their voices through the picture book form. Kitabna has collaborated with civil society, INGOs and UN agencies in Lebanon, Iraqi Kurdistan, Jordan, Syria, Israel-Palestine, Turkey and Libya, working directly with refugee and IDP children to share their voices. Her work in the UK has focused on creating welcoming bilingual children’s books for Syrian families resettled in Northern Ireland under the UK government’s Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Schemes. Kitabna’s 2023 work in Armenia and Poland aims to support psychologists helping children affected by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, in an AHRC-funded collaboration with Cardiff University, and Ukrainian children in institutional care, in partnership with Save the Children. ● Tracy White, a cartoonist and teacher at New York University (NYU) where she teaches how to write and draw comics. She believes stories can change the world. 100% of her author's profits go to organizations that support unaccompanied refugee minors. Her graphic novel Unaccompanied: Stories of Brave Teenagers Seeking Asylum (Street Noise Books, 2023) is about five strong amazing young people (Tracy thinks of them as super heroes) who left their homes and communities to risk the incredibly dangerous journey walking to the U.S. border to seek asylum. Once in the U.S. a whole other journey begins through the immigration system. This book includes further reading and a study guide, and ● Santokh Gill, a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Huddersfield. Transitions: A Story of Refugees Lives is a comic book about people’s experiences after being granted refugee status. The book is based on a study undertaken between January 2021 and December 2022 by researchers at the University. The stories presented in the comic book reflect the experiences the researchers heard from refugees during the study. The events depicted in the book are real events but drawn from a number of different refugee participants. The research was conducted as part of Refugee Integration Yorkshire and Humber, co-funded by the European Union Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). Patuck, White and Gill were speaking in Session 2 of Comic Books and Graphic Novels in Focus which was held virtually on 26 October 2023 as part of Forced Migration and The Arts. https://lnkd.in/eNhAmjqK #graphicnovels #comicbooks #forcedmigration

📢 In January, we announced the release of a new Handbook on Forced Migration, published by Elgar and edited by Tufts University’s Karen Jacobsen and Samuel Hall’s co-founder Nassim Majidi. This week, we delve into the History section of our featured book. The contributing authors explore the crucial role that historical understanding plays in grasping the complexities of forced migration. They discuss why some historians shy away from this topic, and the value of capturing historical antecedents. The section also addresses methodological challenges and proposes ways to deepen our understanding of forced migration. By acknowledging it as a challenging policy issue, the authors highlight how lessons from the past can inform future and present policy decisions. Some of the themes in this section include: 📜Insights into Historical Views : Jerome Elie interviews 25 historians and sheds light on both progress and challenges in understanding forced migration through a historical lens. 🌐Understanding Refugees in Context : Peter Gatrell emphasises that refugee history goes beyond just refugees; but includes the complex network of relationships around them. He challenges historians to integrate displacement into broader historical narratives while ensuring the voices and perspectives of refugees are not overlooked. 🗺️Exploring the Dynamics of Nation-Making and Forced Migration: In her chapter, Anindita Ghosal takes us to 20th century South Asia and argues that the process of nation-making is inherently linked to the creation of borders, large-scale displacements, and the formation of refugee populations. This exploration sheds light on the impacts of partition-induced migration and the enduring legacies that shape contemporary South Asia. The examination of refugee history encourages us to make considerate decisions and strive for a world where everyone is valued and treated with respect. Let's utilise this understanding to promote a more inclusive society. Find the handbook here ⬇ https://lnkd.in/ek5F2rUC

This article by @helinaseyoum summarizes an important day in June, when we honored World Refugee Day & launched our book which was and continues to be a triumph to collaboration!

📢In January, we announced the release of a new Handbook on Forced Migration, published by Elgar and edited by Tufts University's Karen Jacobsen and Samuel Hall’s co-founder Nassim Majidi. https://lnkd.in/dfSZUYmN This week, we're delving into the 'Lived experiences' of refugees and migrants. The Handbook is grounded in the experience of forced migrants and their families and communities, as well as the organisations and governments with which they engage. The editors wanted people with direct experience of forced migration to speak directly to readers. Their stories highlight the impacts of forced migration, challenge existing language and assumptions, and focus on both the challenges and transformative opportunities within this field. 🔎Challenging Discriminatory Terms: Barnabas Ticha Muvhuti, an immigrant in South Africa, confronts the derogatory language that fuels racism, advocating for a more respectful and inclusive dialogue. ✊ Empowering Opportunities: Saida Azimi's journey from Afghanistan to a role in international development in London illustrates how critical educational and professional opportunities, like the Chevening Scholarship, are for empowering Afghan women and transforming lives. 💡Insights from Practitioners:Experienced UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and IOM - UN Migration practitioners discuss the need for organisational evolution to overcome bureaucracy, risk aversion, and disconnect from on-the-ground realities. They call for a renewed focus on creativity, problem-solving, and meaningful leadership within these organisations. ✊Empowering Displaced Persons: The handbook stresses the importance of involving displaced individuals directly in shaping the policies and programs that affect their lives, ensuring their voices and experiences drive meaningful change. 🌍 In offering their perspectives and insight, the 6 stories in “Lived experiences”, section also remind us about protracted situations that have dropped off the media and are at risk of being forgotten. From Zimbabwe to Somalia to Afghanistan, the world cannot forget what millions of forced migrants have experienced in the last decades. Find the handbook here: https://lnkd.in/ek5F2rUC

This #BlackHistoryMonth, we are highlighting some amazing Black immigrant authors and our favorite books by them 📖 Have you read any of these? What are your favorite books written by Black authors? Let us know in the comments below ⬇️ 🤩 ------- [#immigrantswelcome #immigrantstories #immigration #storytelling #changemakers #change #immigrant]

Last month, we announced the release of a new Handbook on Forced Migration, published by Elgar and edited by Tufts University's Karen Jacobsen and Samuel Hall’s co-founder Nassim Majidi. ➡ https://lnkd.in/e5TKBSiM This week onwards, we are sharing insights from the key themes that the handbook addresses - starting with DURABLE SOLUTIONS. For most forced migrants today, the traditional solutions are out of reach. Less than 1% of refugees resettle each year, and very few IDPs and refugees return due to ongoing conflict.  This section, edited by Cathrine Brun delves into the  quest for durable solutions beyond the traditional trio of repatriation, local integration, and resettlement. It challenges us to rethink these solutions in light of current geopolitical dynamics and the lived experiences of displaced communities.  🔍 Key Themes ✒ The Myth of Return: This section shows the deep-seated belief in the ideal of returning home, despite the often unrealistic and challenging nature of such a solution. Brun critically examines how this myth affects investment and hope in the places of displacement, leading to a life on hold for many. ✒Local Integration Challenges: Discusses the intricacies of local integration as both a policy and a practice. The section highlights the case of Burundian refugees in Tanzania, showcasing the rare success story of mass naturalisation, juxtaposed against the common reality where integration remains informal and precarious. ✒Self-reliance as an Alternative: Introduces the concept of self-reliance, not as a solution, but as a pragmatic approach to improving the lives of displaced people. This is exemplified by Uganda's policy, which has emphasised economic independence for refugees as a form of durable solution. ✒Political Economy of Displacement: Brun urges a critical examination of the political and economic forces shaping displacement solutions. The discussion includes how host states leverage refugee populations for aid, and the global north's role in shaping policies that often prioritise containment over genuine solutions. 🌐 Towards Realistic Solutions: The chapter calls for a shift towards more realistic and humane solutions that prioritise the voices and agency of displaced people themselves. It advocates for policies that are flexible, responsive, and grounded in the realities of those they aim to serve. Find the handbook here: https://lnkd.in/ek5F2rUC

Check my review of Luca Mavelli's most recent book, "Neoliberal Citizenship: Sacred Markets, Sacrificial Lives". The book creatively merges biopolitics, scarcity, and, most importantly, the conception of the sacred to unveil the implications of neoliberal logic, showing how social and political relations are conceived on the basis of market logic exchange and how neoliberal logic ends up altering the conception of citizenship at its core. https://lnkd.in/dxiNJ6Ns

Where Monalisa Sethi writes a glowing review of the book, "We, the Citizens" (authored by Khyati P., Anupam Manur & Pranay Kotasthane). Some excerpts from the review: ☛"...due to scarcity, resources must be allocated efficiently, a task often handled by markets... . However, … markets can be imperfect and lead to issues like pollution, which in turn requires government intervention through regulation and finance." ☛"If one reads this book carefully, one will understand that it’s not very different than how organizations function, albeit at a significantly much larger scale." According to her, the book is special because: ☛ It's "fun and engaging with tonnes of examples from real life so that you can relate and learn". ☛ It aims to, "nudge citizens towards active engagement with policies for a better India". Looks like I must go get the book too!

📢 "Even in critical situations, individuals and families make decisions about whether to move or not, and who should move and who should stay." Forced migration in the 21st century is closely linked to three global developments: climate change, rapid urbanisation, and the lack of solutions faced by millions of forcibly displaced people. 🔎 How do these interconnected challenges shape the lives of those on the move? What durable solutions can help address these pressing issues? 💡 This #MigrationWeek we are thrilled to introduce Elgar’s Handbook on Forced Migration. Edited by Tufts University’s Karen Jacobsen and Samuel Hall’s co-founder Nassim Majidi, this handbook offers readers a refreshing lens through which to perceive migration narratives. What sets this handbook apart? ✒️ A Critical Take on Narratives: This handbook is first of its kind to take an in-depth look at  concepts, institutions, narratives, & language that underpin the study of forced migration. Within its pages, you'll find expert articles from the field of PHILOSOPHY of forced migration, edited by Samuel Hall's co-founder Hervé NICOLLE, alongside sections on the HISTORY of forced migration, led by Susan Martin. Furthermore, it accentuates URBAN, DURABLE SOLUTIONS from IIED’s Lucy Earle along with colleagues from Protracted Displacement in Urban World (PDUW) project and Catherine Brun and brings to the fore perspectives challenging MIXED MIGRATION. ✒️ Advocacy for Ethical Research: Concluding with a chapter on lived experiences, the handbook echoes the need for ethical and collaborative research in the domain of forced migration. The editors invited forced migrants  to share their stories, answering vital questions about their experiences and challenging common misconceptions in forced migration discourse. ✒️ Narratives Over Numbers: Going beyond mere statistics, this book immerses the reader into narratives that structure our understanding of one of the least comprehended societal issues of our era. In between the main parts of the Handbook, there are interspersed stories of people on the move - to remind people of the faces behind the figures and the threats faced by migrants, their courage and agency in responding to these threats, and the people (and organisations) who help or hinder them. In the Conclusion of our Handbook, we lay out a set of principles to guide policy decisions, actions and research on forced migration. 📚Who should read it? This handbook has been written for both a general audience and experts, aiming to unite everyone towards a shared vision and understanding of the priorities ahead. It emphasises a more ethical and collaborative approach to the study, practice, and policymaking in forced migration. The introduction is free to download. Each week, for the next few weeks; we will share insights from the various sections of the handbook. Watch this space! https://lnkd.in/ek5F2rUC