Articles

Breaking stereotypes, giving hope

Over the last few months, I’ve been reading and watching and engaging with the stories of migrants, told through many different media. In that time, it’s the story of Judy that moved me the most. In November 2019 I went to a performance by Ice & Fire – an organisation that explores human rights stories through performance – at Westminster University. I was really astounded and moved by the actor who performed the life story of Judy, an asylum seeker from Uganda. I could feel the pain and cruelty that she went…

Over the last few months, I’ve been reading and watching and engaging with the stories of migrants, told through many different media. In that time, it’s the story of Judy…

Getting out of my comfort zone

Alexandre Gondim is an artist and a life coach. But he’s not just that. It’s easy to identify others by their profession, or name, or who they represent in a certain situation. If we focus on his profession, Alexandre is an artist. Someone who has been helped with their life issues may see Alexandre as a life coach. Others may see him as a migrant. Well, Alexandre is all these things – and much more. He is a man with an innate curiosity and need for answers – and a…

Alexandre Gondim is an artist and a life coach. But he’s not just that. It’s easy to identify others by their profession, or name, or who they represent in a…

‘They need a warm house, so I try my best’

Teka is a loving and engaging woman who has been fostering in London for 15 years, transforming the lives of more than a dozen children in that time. Winning multiple awards, including ‘Foster Carer of the Year’ in 2014 (awarded by Lambeth Council), she has worked hard and passionately to improve the lives of the children and young people that have come into her care. Amongst them, many have been refugees and asylum seekers – an experience she can relate to, as she was herself a refugee when she arrived…

Teka is a loving and engaging woman who has been fostering in London for 15 years, transforming the lives of more than a dozen children in that time. Winning multiple…

Who should get to stay in the UK?

The BBC series, 'Who should get to stay in the UK?', told the stories of some of the people trying desperately to stay in the UK, and the lawyers are helping them. The three episodes, broadcast on BBC 2 in June, are now available on BBC iPlayer. Each episode focuses on the lives of different migrants. Some of them came to Britain on a student visa, like Valeriya from Russia and Rashed from Bangladesh. Dillian had fled to the UK from Trinidad and Tobago, while Nancy has lived here since…

The BBC series, 'Who should get to stay in the UK?', told the stories of some of the people trying desperately to stay in the UK, and the lawyers are…

Thinking outside the ethnic box

‘What is your ethnic group? Tick one box to best describe your ethnic group or background.’ That is the question that millions of UK residents face daily – when trying to complete job or higher education applications, nationwide censuses and other government-related paperwork. According to the Office for National Statistics, ethnicity-related questions were developed with the aim of enabling organisations to monitor equal opportunities and anti-discrimination policies, and to allocate government resources more effectively in order to assist minority groups. The question first appeared on the census in 1991. But…

‘What is your ethnic group? Tick one box to best describe your ethnic group or background.’ That is the question that millions of UK residents face daily – when trying…

Curbing migration won't beat far right

In an article published on 22 November as a part of a larger interview with Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair and Matteo Renzi, Clinton boldly asserts that “Europe needs to get a handle on migration because that is what lit the flame (of right-wing populism).” She asserts that Angela Merkel has been kind and generous but that Europe cannot continue to welcome refugees and migrants because that will “roil the body politic”. What she means is that continuing to offer refuge can destroy liberal democracy in Europe. These sentiments are largely present within…

In an article published on 22 November as a part of a larger interview with Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair and Matteo Renzi, Clinton boldly asserts that “Europe needs to get a handle…

Amna, a cosmopolitan poet

Amna Mahmoud, a cosmopolitan woman who was born in Sudan, wrote in her book: “I am concerned that the culture in some parts of the world were undermined until they were re-discovered by the influential nations, then the same practices become highly appreciated, fashionable, glorified and accepted as the norm.” Amna studied medicine and specialized while in Russia. She lived in different countries and worked in many places including international organisations, before moving to the UK more than twenty years ago. Here she worked as a policy officer in regional…

Amna Mahmoud, a cosmopolitan woman who was born in Sudan, wrote in her book: “I am concerned that the culture in some parts of the world were undermined until they…

Fuad's story: Discovering diversity

Fuad Alakbarov’s latest project was inspired by “Humans of New York”, a photographic census of New York City by photographer and blogger Brandon Stanton. “I called it ‘World Submarine’ because a submarine can go everywhere, has access to all roads,” Fuad said. Fuad, originally from Azerbaijan and now living in Scotland, is a political commentator, human rights activist and photojournalist. Photography has always been a great passion, he explains, first as an amateur, then as a professional. His Facebook page is full of his photos, including a preview of “World Submarine”. He’s…

Fuad Alakbarov’s latest project was inspired by “Humans of New York”, a photographic census of New York City by photographer and blogger Brandon Stanton. “I called it ‘World Submarine’ because…

Working the night shift: Episode 3

NightWorkPod (NWP) documents experiences while working the night shift. NWP is inspired by my research into the sociology of the invisible migrant night shift workers in London. I am Julius-Cezar MacQuarie, and I am an anthropologist. I took up research at night when I learnt that night shift workers were invisible in the scholarly literature (mostly focusing on night life), as well as from public debates. Seven years later, NWP was born. NWP does not focus on night life in global cities, but it acknowledges that in such cities that…

NightWorkPod (NWP) documents experiences while working the night shift. NWP is inspired by my research into the sociology of the invisible migrant night shift workers in London. I am Julius-Cezar…

Working the night shift: Episode 2

NightWorkPod (NWP) documents experiences while working the night shift. NWP is inspired by my research into the sociology of the invisible migrant night shift workers in London. I am Julius-Cezar MacQuarie, and I am an anthropologist. I took up research at night when I learnt that night shift workers were invisible in the scholarly literature (mostly focusing on night life), as well as from public debates. Seven years later, NWP was born. NWP does not focus on night life in global cities, but it acknowledges that in such cities that…

NightWorkPod (NWP) documents experiences while working the night shift. NWP is inspired by my research into the sociology of the invisible migrant night shift workers in London. I am Julius-Cezar…

Articles

Articles

Breaking stereotypes, giving hope

Over the last few months, I’ve been reading and watching and engaging with the stories of migrants, told through many different media. In that time, it’s the story of Judy…

Getting out of my comfort zone

Alexandre Gondim is an artist and a life coach. But he’s not just that. It’s easy to identify others by their profession, or name, or who they represent in a…

‘They need a warm house, so I try my best’

Teka is a loving and engaging woman who has been fostering in London for 15 years, transforming the lives of more than a dozen children in that time. Winning multiple…

Who should get to stay in the UK?

The BBC series, 'Who should get to stay in the UK?', told the stories of some of the people trying desperately to stay in the UK, and the lawyers are…

Thinking outside the ethnic box

‘What is your ethnic group? Tick one box to best describe your ethnic group or background.’ That is the question that millions of UK residents face daily – when trying…

Curbing migration won't beat far right

In an article published on 22 November as a part of a larger interview with Hillary Clinton, Tony Blair and Matteo Renzi, Clinton boldly asserts that “Europe needs to get a handle…

Amna, a cosmopolitan poet

Amna Mahmoud, a cosmopolitan woman who was born in Sudan, wrote in her book: “I am concerned that the culture in some parts of the world were undermined until they…

Fuad's story: Discovering diversity

Fuad Alakbarov’s latest project was inspired by “Humans of New York”, a photographic census of New York City by photographer and blogger Brandon Stanton. “I called it ‘World Submarine’ because…

Working the night shift: Episode 3

NightWorkPod (NWP) documents experiences while working the night shift. NWP is inspired by my research into the sociology of the invisible migrant night shift workers in London. I am Julius-Cezar…

Working the night shift: Episode 2

NightWorkPod (NWP) documents experiences while working the night shift. NWP is inspired by my research into the sociology of the invisible migrant night shift workers in London. I am Julius-Cezar…

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