yoi08 research group: Ken Lee
Material Conditions of Refugees from Kosovo
Members: Katja, Sadik
The Project “Reintegration of refugees, IDPs and returnees” aims to develop new approaches and generate new ideas in order to highlight possible potentitals of refugees, IDPs and returnees in Serbia. Due to injustices we noticed while visiting the refugees and IDPs camp in Kragujevac we find it important to hardly work on the continous reinteration of those groups of people into society.





comments and questions from the audience during the presentation
- In which way are you going to inform every one of these persons and ask then do they want to be a part of this project?
- What's the number of refugees... necessary for the start of the project implementation.
- suggestion: to use the media and popular persons
- interesting idea to refresh to projects concerning refugees.
- The project does not leave a possibility to engage in a non-service model.
- Too theoretical, not clear what the difference between different statuses is (refugee, internally displaced people...)
- complex project, good presentations, but try to separate albanian and serbian refugees.
- I think that from your presentation is hard to understand what is your stake in the research question. Why would you be an adequate subject to look for "solutions"?
- The proposals working in this framework sounded very nice but general and abstract. You also talked about the refugees as the "target group" - and this to me seemed to be an example of a "service model".
- Also did you have a chance to check what other initiatives are already doing in place?
- Too much information which was general.
- too optimistic approach what we can all at once change the world.
- In theory looks great but the practice is something very different thing and can't be so easy to do it.
- You should have given more specific steps.
- I find it really regrettable that you did your project in simulation mode. Somehow you acted as if you were humanitarian aid N60, targeting and surveying a group of other without reflecting the own position.
- interesting idea. maybe it should be out on more global level.
- How will you re-socialize refugees families (what kind of methodology will you use?)
- Are you going to have in consideration only psychological but maybe also the financial help?
- Don't you think that these steps were already followed? In how much time do you think you apply this project?
- From what position will you approach the question of "possible potentials" of refugees?
- How do you know that refugees need more informations?
- How would you have approached refugees? From what position?
- What about the process of repatriation? That's the US's suggestive methods and it would be interesting to research relationships between national governments in the Balkans and their efforts to realize this solution. On the other hand, what's with local people and their rejection to accept their old neighbors who left their homes years ago.
- I know that they didn't have time, just if they continue, they have to be in touch with refugees, to go there, to try to be like a part of them. Bravo Katja and Sadik!
- To wide picture; missed the point of YOI projects... (no solutions)...
- How are you going to use your results in your home countries?
- How much time will it take to implement such a project?
- I think this project won't work because it is only theoretical.
- Target groups - too broad. Is the project aimed to help to all of IDSs, refugees and Asylum seekers from Kosovo?
- What is the first question referring to? How is "Ken Lee" planning to change legal status of refugees? Did you use any YOI methodology?
- Why do you think that from your distanced position you could support sustainable solutions for re-integration of refugees?
- Could you think of any other position that you could take towards this problem?
- What problems you think could show-up in your research?
Some questions for your work...
There is a lot of potential for your idea. Nice job putting together the many aspects you considered in the time you had. Here are some questions to help you strengthen from here:
How important would it be that the affected group of people have a role in developing research and intervention? Is there any hope for a civic model here that empowers these communities to have more than a surveyed opinion, but actual decision-making power in this work? How might this affect the nature of the work, the expected outcomes, or the objective?
What work could be done to be inclusive of the actual refugees in the methodology of your program?
Have any displaced people or refugees been included in developing the methodology for your research? If not, how could you include displaced people or refugees in the fundamental decision-making? Did you research how other organizations may do this? Could you see what they do and add the ways they have solved these problems into your idea?
some of my thoughts
I really encourage you to not provide advice as you do this research at least in the initial phase but rather to really find out from the refugees what they need, what they want, what they wish for.
The research you are doing is already very valuable and interesting as it is without necessarily needing to come up with solutions. So I would suggest to really focus on the research aspect and not have as your primary goal to find solutions.
The Round Table discussions sound amazing! I would start with those and see where that takes you without too many expectations on your part. I imagine you would spend a lot of time at the beginning in these round tables. It will be great to see some members of the camps step up and see what ideas they come up with.
Can't wait to hear how it goes!
Good luck
Jade