The Refugees in Towns project is pleased to publish this case report as part of its Race and Refugees research program. Both the Mobile, Alabama, USA and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA case reports explore the historical, cultural, and political contexts in addition to the lived experiences of refugees grappling with the U.S. construction of race. Both reports have been adapted into StoryMaps, allowing readers to interactively explore Mobile and Pittsburgh while showcasing RIT's reflexive and localized methodology. View the StoryMaps here: Mobile, Alabama, USA and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Pittsburgh, PA, US
The Refugees in Towns project is pleased to publish this case report as part of its Race and Refugees research program. Both the Mobile, Alabama, USA and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA case reports explore the historical, cultural, and political contexts in addition to the lived experiences of refugees grappling with the U.S. construction of race. Both reports have been adapted into StoryMaps, allowing readers to interactively explore Mobile and Pittsburgh while showcasing RIT's reflexive and localized methodology. View the StoryMaps here: Mobile, Alabama, USA and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
Tibet 1 2023
This report tells the story of a Tibetan refugee living in Sarnath, India (pseudonym Thubten Dawa), who works for the Sarnath International Nyingma Institute (SINI). Later, in summer 2022, the author traveled to India to work at SINI, where he developed a closer relationship with Thubten Dawa. On numerous occasions, Thubten Dawa expressed his aspiration that by reading this story, “others will understand the importance of pure motivation and necessity to prioritize the welfare of others rather than one’s self.”
Makhanda, South Africa 2022
Barnabas Muvhuti is one of approximately 180,000 holders of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP). In November 2021, the South African government announced it would not renew the ZEP at the end of 2021, instead giving Zimbabweans who held a ZEP a ‘grace period’ of one year to apply for mainstream permits from the Department of Home Affairs (DHA). The decision caught us unawares and renewed or reinforced our sense of limbo and instability. In this article, Barnabas reflects on the situation and describe the mixed reactions of fellow Zimbabweans.
Gaborone, Botswana
Drawing from his own experiences as an immigrant and his interactions with refugees and immigrants in Botswana’s capital, Gaborone City, Felix Tapilira Chilumpha explores life in the Dukwi Refugee Camp. Located over 500 kilometers away from Gabarone, Dukwi Camp is isolated from much of Botswana’s population and resources, including education and jobs. In his report, Felix focuses on Botswana’s policies that impact refugees' and immigrants’ mobility, employment opportunities, and education.