Re-voicing the unheard

Meta-study on arts-based interventions for social inclusion of refugees and asylum-seekers

Authors

  • Ana I. Alves Moreira AidLearn, European projects department, Rua Frederico George, 31B, Loja 1, 1600-012 Lisboa, Portugal
  • Antonia L. P. Jakobi AidLearn, European projects department, Rua Frederico George, 31B, Loja 1, 1600-012 Lisboa, Portugal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2021.2.93.112

Keywords:

meta-study, refugees, asylum-seekers, social inclusion, art, intervention, community

Abstract

Aim. This study aims to explore and analyse qualitative research on refugee and asylum-seeker interventions for social inclusion that engages a creative, arts-based community approach.

Method. The article describes a meta-study towards discovering meta-theory, meta-methods, and meta-findings across articles on the subject. For this purpose, a broad database search was conducted, which resulted in a total of 7 articles after filtering according to the previously defined exclusion criteria. These articles were analysed by two independent researchers and later reviewed by two independent evaluators.

Results and conclusion. There was an overarching lack of definitions and distinction of and for the terms refugee, migrant and asylum-seeker. A similar problem could also be found regarding social inclusion and integration which were, at times, used interchangeably. Additionally, the majority of the studies opted for an ethnographic approach despite choosing different methods within the said approach. Concerning the meta findings, three main themes emerged across research: space of expression and confidence; transformation process to agency and citizenship; and exchange and dialogue between the host community and arrivals. These themes were discussed and reflected upon, and limitations were pointed out.

Originality. Having identified the lack of refugee and asylum-seeker voices within migration studies, this article sets out to counteract this issue by having included only those articles that provided space for refugee and asylum-seeking individuals to speak up, thereby authentically understanding arts-based social inclusion interventions from a new and neglected angle.

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Author Biographies

Ana I. Alves Moreira, AidLearn, European projects department, Rua Frederico George, 31B, Loja 1, 1600-012 Lisboa, Portugal

Ana I. Alves Moreira has a MSc in Psychology of Intercultural Relations from ISCTE-IUL and works as Jr. Project Manager in European projects at AidLearn. Her research interests are social cognition, culture, and social inclusion.

Antonia L. P. Jakobi, AidLearn, European projects department, Rua Frederico George, 31B, Loja 1, 1600-012 Lisboa, Portugal

Antonia L. P. Jakobi is currently finishing her MSc in Psychology of Intercultural Relations, after which she will work as a Jr. Project Manager in European Projects at AidLearn. Her interests are psycho-societal issues, in particular social inclusion, diversity, and equality.

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Published

2021-09-25

How to Cite

Alves Moreira, A. I., & Jakobi, A. L. P. (2021). Re-voicing the unheard: Meta-study on arts-based interventions for social inclusion of refugees and asylum-seekers. Journal of Education Culture and Society, 12(2), 93–112. https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2021.2.93.112