According to the United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees (UNHCR), an estimated 110 million people have been forcibly displaced due to conflict, persecution or natural disasters, and there are approximately 35 million refugees globally. By the end of 2022, Turkey continued to host the largest refugee population, with 3.6 million people. The Islamic Republic of Iran, Colombia and Germany were next, hosting over 2 million refugees. Countries like Pakistan, Uganda and Sudan closely followed, all hosting over 1 million refugees. The UK hosted 231,597 refugees (as of November 2022). 52% of all refugees and other people in need of international protection came from just three countries: Syria, Ukraine and Afghanistan. To find out more click here for the UNHCR website, and here for the Amnesty International website.
We are currently supporting Refugee Action, in the UK, along with other partner organisations, listed below, in delivering an Emerging Leaders Programme, funded by the National Lottery. This sits within the Explore, Adapt, Renew (EAR) programme.
This is a growing collaborative community of organisations across 7 local ecosystem and beyond with Experts by Experience (EBEs) driving change at all levels. Within this structure, the programme focusses on four interconnected elements: 1) shifting power, 2) adapting services, 3) early action, and 4) local ecosystems.
The vision for the “shifting power” element of the programme is to transform the role of within the refugee and migrant sector by supporting organisations to take practical steps towards shifting power to people with lived experience. EAR aims to transform the role of EBE’s within the sector to centre and embed their knowledge, experience and voice, in all aspects of service design and delivery, advocacy, and community development. The programme co-ordinator said: ‘This is about creating spaces for everyone on this journey to share and learn together, not transfer power from one person or group to the other, but to share and learn from each other’.
The Emerging Leaders programme is an experiential learning programme designed by Caplor Horizons in collaboration with Refugee Action. It has involved approx. 24 participants and has included both face to face and online sessions. Topics included:
Developing your own leadership style
Effective communication and influence
Power and influence
Collaborating with others
These topics have drawn on many of our Advisors' work, including, Lynne Sedgmore (Luminary Leadership models of power), Seamus O’Gorman (the craft of Collaboration, please click here to read one of his papers), amongst others.
Another organisation we are working with to shift power to "experts by experience" is Ella's. Ella’s is a London-based organisation working with women who have survived trafficking and sexual exploitation. Ella's have recently set up a Survivors Advisory Board which aims to bring together people with lived experience with a common goal of increasing the influence of survivor voices in designing and strengthening support services.
Change maker of the week
Through her work, Ibtissam focuses on breaking down challenges that hinder individuals from accessing and harnessing their own power. She believes that true empowerment comes from removing these obstacles and fostering an environment where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive. By sharing her knowledge and working collaboratively with others, she aims to create a transformative impact on individuals' lives and society as a whole.
Quote of the week: “A refugee is someone who survived and who can create the future.” Amela Koluder
Best wishes
Ian, Rosie, Lorna, Kemal and Iain