Displaced people (entry to RSA design awards 2019)

From their stories...

Insights

Refugees suffer great cultural loss moving to a distant country

Little to no possessions when Small aspects of displaced they leave, making it harder to people's cultures being remember home. brought back can help settle people in seemingly alien environments i.e. Frances refuge food festival.

Refugees find it difficult to reunite with friends and family Seperation can happen early Limited access to technology, on, meaning families can be cuts out one of the easiest countries apart. wasy for refugees to reconnect and organise.

Refugees find it difficult to adapt to their new environment and access services available to them.

News alerts take along time to For refugees there are limited trickle down to refugees i.e. spaces were aid workers can the warning of disease out- safely educate children. breaks or security threats.

70.8m

displaced people worldwide

-Problem The changes refugees have to suffer from their displacement, makes it difficult to adapt into there new country and can force them to loose their own culture.

-Opportunity Refugees need something to welcome them to their new home.

If there was a pack that provides them with some initial knowledge to help them get started as well as some home comforts, the shock of their move would be lessened.

Summary of how my research was conducted Initially research was conducted on the RSA website, via the toolkits provided with each brief.

The first document to be opened was a video presentation of the brief itself [1], which outlined one of the key issues faced by displaced people was the lack of access to internet connected devices. This video linked their lack of internet to social issues i.e. separation from loved ones and loneliness.

From further research on the UNHCR website [2], some data was gathered i.e. 70.8million displaced individuals worldwide. As well as this the research showed that the massive changes in environment can leave many people feeling alienated when arriving in a new country. Part of this change is due to cultural differences. Having few refugees bring cultural items with them, as they are often forced from their homes in a hurry. The website also listed some responses to this problem, where schemes are run to bring back displaced people’s culture. For example, France’s refugee food festival [3].

The UNHRC also has a separate connectivity website for refugees [4], information from this further cemented the data about displaced people having poorer access to technology. For example, Refugees are left behind, compared to global population, refugees are 50% less likely to be connected and 2.5 times less likely to have a mobile. The site also showed some of the consequences of the lack of technology amongst displaced people challenges included: Communication, self-organisation, self-empower, reduction in access to services, reduction in access to online education and difficulty in building livelihoods References: [1]: The RSA Design Brief 8’s Toolkit, 22/10/19, Access via URL: https://www.thersa.org/action-and-research/rsa-projects/design/student-design-awards/design-briefs/toolkit-brief8 [2]: The UNHRC main website, 22/10/19, Access via URL: https://www.unhcr.org/ [3]: The France refugee food festival, 24/10/19, Access via URL: http://www.refugeefoodfestival. com/?lang=en [4]: The UNHRC connectivity through refugees page, 24/10/19, Access via URL: https://www. unhcr.org/innovation/connectivity-for-refugees/