Side Program

Pre-conference Workshop

Two workshops will be held for graduate students and early career researchers on Monday, 20 January 2025. Limited seats are still available for the workshops, so if you are interested to join, reach out to us at iasfm20@rdiuref.org. 

Governance of Displacement and Protection in a Chaotic World: An academic writing workshop

This one-day writing workshop brings together early career researchers (ECRs) (including PhD students) attending IASFM20, with peers from UK, Canadian, and Australian Universities, and the Refugee Survey Quarterly (RSQ) journal. The event is an excellent opportunity for ECRs to obtain constructive feedback on draft writing samples from peers and academic journal editors in a friendly space.

The workshop will focus on the theme of Governance of Displacement and Protection in a Chaotic World. Proposals/papers are welcomed from ECRs looking at how we understand displacement, forms of protections found at different levels of analysis (including global and ground-level approaches), and formal and informal solutions to displacement. Given the overarching focus of the conference, papers with a focus on the urban setting are particularly encouraged. Selected participants will be expected to submit a draft academic article in advance of the workshop for discussion and feedback from workshop participants. Each participant will also be required to give constructive feedback on other attendees’ submissions.

How to apply to the writing workshop:

Please submit an abstract for your academic paper (approximately 300 words) with a cover email outlining your motivations for applying to participate in the workshop and an evidence of registration for the conference to RLI@sas.ac.uk by 18 December 2024. Participants are later expected to submit their draft workshop papers (6,000 to 8,000 words) by 6 January 2025. Any queries, please email RLI@sas.ac.uk

The Governance of Displacement and Protection in a Chaotic World writing workshop is organised and supported by Local Engagement Refugee Research Network (LERRN), the Refugee Law Initiative, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, and the RSQ journal. 

Utopian Imagination: the Action Researcher for Transition Change

The concept of system transition is inherently future-oriented, focused on the potential of future possibilities and the radical rejection of current systems that have contributed to social and environmental permacrises on a global scale. For many, these crises have resulted in the collapse of existing ways of life, while preserving the status quo of the most privileged. More than an academic workshop, Utopian Imagination  is a challenge of the dominant knowledge system and a celebration of the pluriverse. Together, we will explore participation as pleasurable, playful, illogical, irreverent, vernacular, and regenerative. We will be  re-thinking research practices that aim to achieve collective change, in terms of embodiment, and its spiritual and political dimensions. 

Utopian Imagination emerged from the project Refugee Transition Network – AHRC International Networking (2023-24), that explored Transition Design Framework applicability in the context of Urban Refugee Management. The methodology was piloted in the context of Transition Living Lab, an international student challenge, and at the Participatory Design Conference in Malaysia (Luján Escalante et al, 2024).

Facilitator: Malé Luján Escalante – UAL: London College of Communication, MA Service Design

Utopian Imagination: the Action Researcher for Transition Change workshop is organized by RDI UREF and supported by Design Ethnography Lab ITB. 

 

Ignite Stage

Two Ignite Stages will take place on Wednesday and Thursday (22 & 23 January 2025) and delivered by our local event partners.

The Displaced, the Antagonist

Urban displacements occurred through various government policies in the name of progress. The affected community has a voice and aspirations about how this change should be carried out and how they could continue their lives. This voice is often unheard, often silenced. The reluctant support of the mainstream media makes people choose to build their own platform and utilize social media to expand public awareness that they are not okay. Many parties are trying to ensure that this voice does not disappear along with the loss of the evicted community’s place of life. Various media are explored so that this voice can still be heard. Community assistance to bridge these voices is developed to strengthen the community’s resiliency to build their new lives.

Right and wrong are very relative based on your point of stance, but the value of humanity is an absolute value that we need to fight for. Technology makes it easier for us to gather and voice humanity. On this ignite stage, Pecha Kucha Jogja invites antagonistic actors in the eyes of the government, who bring displaced voices to the surface.

The Displaced, the Antagonist is organized by PechaKucha Night Jogja. 

PechaKucha was created in Japan in 2003 by renowned architects, Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham; where presenters only get 20 images shown for 20 seconds each, to present their recent project or passion. PechaKucha Night Jogja has been organizing the event since 2011 with various themes and inspiring speakers.

Speakers:

  • Anang Saptoto, from Panen Apa Hari Ini (Pari). PARI is a platform connecting art practices and farming on food sovereignty and community-based resolutions.
  • Errik Irwan, from Gump n Hell. Errik is a creative activist who uses satire comic strips to criticize and trigger public discourse about social and political conditions in Indonesia through social media
  • Rani Puspitasari, from ARKOM Indonesia. ARKOM Indonesia focuses on strengthening action for climate improvement through housing, urban settlements, and creative social entrepreneurship.
  • Susi Mulyani, from Wadas Melawan. Wadas Melawan or Wadon Wadas is a community movement and advocacy that strongly rejects nature exploitation in Bumi Wadas.
  • Ruy Nubarani, from Ekspedisi Indonesia Baru. Ekspedisi Indonesia baru is a short-movie platform capturing expeditions of four Indonesian journalists on motorbikes with a mission to document society and nature of Indonesia from various aspects.

Refugee-Led Community Impact: Youth Stage

In recent years, refugee youth have demonstrated immense resilience and creativity in addressing issues affecting displaced communities. However, despite their efforts, the contributions of refugee-led initiatives, mainly youth displaced activism, often remain underrepresented in global discussions on displacement and migration. This one-hour session at IASFM20 spotlights the leadership, creativity, resilience and achievements of young refugee leaders and the impact of their community-driven projects. 

The goal is to amplify the voices of refugee youth and demonstrate the tangible results of refugee-led initiatives. The stage will serve as a space for these young leaders to share their achievements, challenges, and lessons learned, while also advocating for the importance of youth-led and refugee-driven solutions to community development. This spotlight will also help shift narratives around refugees, from vulnerability to agency and innovation. 

Presentations will be delivered by young, displaced individuals, each representing a unique project or program that exemplifies refugee-led community work. Presenters will have (10 minutes) time to showcase their projects through storytelling, discuss the challenges they have faced, and share the impact their initiatives have had on their communities. Through engaging presentations and interactive Q&A, attendees will gain insights into the resilience and innovation of refugee youth, exploring themes of advocacy, education, mental health, community and youth empowerment.

Refugee-led Community Impact: Youth Stage is organized by Emplace Youth Initiative and supported by Same Skies.

EMPLACE is one of the few inclusive, refugee-led initiatives specializing in youth, focused on addressing the needs of refugees in Indonesia. The mission is to create a safe space that provides comprehensive support, resources, and opportunities for youth to thrive and contribute to their communities regardless of their background. As a refugee youth-led and youth-focused initiative, Emplace is looking to shift mindsets amongst young people and raise young people’s expectations of what they can achieve for themselves. We believe this is a much-needed area of work that is often neglected in the more traditional programming of organizations in the refugee space in Asia Pacific. 

Same Skies is a non-religious, politically neutral non-profit organization, registered in Switzerland, Australia, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Same Skies is an international team of passionate humanitarian professionals who support refugees and asylum seekers. Same Skies want to drive leadership and innovation in refugee work to improve efficiency, effectiveness, quality and social outcomes. Same Skies focus on resilience and works based on the conviction that every individual has skills and knowledge to contribute to society. This paradigm shift has a very significant, transformative impact on people’s lives when it is applied throughout every step of a project.


Facilitator: Nooryah Mudaber (Emplace Youth Initiative).

Nooryah has been actively engaged in supporting refugee communities since 2022, with teaching school subjects to refugee children at a refugee community-run school. In addition to her teaching role, she served as a manicure trainer at a skills-building center, empowering women to learn practical and sustainable skills. In 2023, Nooryah designed a mental health support program tailored for youth refugees, demonstrating her commitment to addressing their psychological well-being. By 2024, she had expanded her efforts by creating skill-building initiatives for refugee children and teenagers. As an alumna of a Youth Mentorship Program run by Emplace Youth Initiative, Nooryah developed a project under the literacy-building module titled Afghan Women’s Lives Under the Taliban’s Regime. 

Speakers: 

  • Mohammad Sajadi. Mohammad is a Black-Belt athlete and determined Taekwondo trainer with two years of experience for the local and refugee community. He has featured in the documentary films of Dobok, Fighting Forward, and the Companion. He is currently an active member of a refugee-led Youth Initiative and leading a Youth Mentorship Program for youth refugees in Indonesia.
  • Anqaa Badiea. Anqaa is studying Health Science at the University of People. She is also a freelance artist, and official volunteer interpreter for UNHCR. Anqaa serves as an Arab Refugees Representative in her refugee community. In addition, she works as a student affairs and secondary math teacher, supporting refugee students’ growth and their academic success.
  • Laila Rezae. Laila has been serving her refugee community as a volunteer teacher for 6 years. She has taught different subjects to age groups of kids to adults. Laila has worked as a sales development representative for a year and has been equidistant with cybersecurity skills. 
  • Muttasim Abdullah. Muttasim is a university graduate from journalism and a dedicated human rights defender. He is the one of co-founders of Jakarta Bersatu Project representing the JBP as a Communication Officer. Muttasim has been working as a paralegal advocating for refugee rights in Indonesia and also working as an official interpreter with CWS serving the Arabic refugee community in Indonesia.
  • Shukriah Noori. Shukriah is well-trained and experienced in supporting well-being, education, and positive change in her refugee community. She has dedicated her time to promote education access to refugee children.

Side Meetings

A number of meetings will take place on Wednesday, 22 January 2025, for all IASFM members to get to know the association and how you can be more involved in different iniatives: 

  • IASFM Annual General Meeting, Brown-bag session to introduce the newly created Education, displacement and (im)mobility’ research cluster in IASFM
  • IASFM HFMR Working Group Meeting (by invitation only). 

RDI UREF organizes an Indonesian scholar-activists meeting on Tuesday, 21 January 2025 for those who are interested in being involved in the advocacy for better urban refugee management in Indonesia. Contact person: Nino Viartasiwi (nino.viartasiwi@president.ac.id)

 

Networking Opportunities

  • Attend our Welcome Dinner on Tuesday, 21 January 2025. The dinner will take place in Grha Sabha Pramana, UGM (also the location of opening and morning sessions on the same day). 
  • Don’t forget to bring your running gears and join our Morning Run on Thursday, 23 January 2025, at 5.30 am local time to refresh your day before the conference starts! The 5K running event will take us around UGM campus to see a number of iconic areas of the university. The event is a collaboration with the UGM Athletics Club, who will also be our running pacers. 
  • Find our Podcast Booth in the conference venue for a chance to be featured in the IASFM20 Podcast Series, to be published on RDI UREF Memento podcast channel on Spotify. Our podcast team members will be on the hunt for impromptu interviews to conference participants, so make sure you say hi to them.