Citizen initiatives as places of preferred identity formation

This post forms part of our series in showcasing abstracts of presentations featured at our annual postgraduate interdisciplinary conference on refugee and forced migration research, hosted in November 2018 at The University of Melbourne.

SARAH STRAUVEN

My doctoral research project focuses on Australian grassroots community initiatives whereby citizens and people with refugee experience are co-creating a shared world through narrative practices. An especial focus being the transformational potential of these relational encounters. Narrative practice seeks to dismantle the stories that limit people’s lives while exploring alternative stories that open new possibilities of being and acting.

Collective narrative work involves gathering others as witnesses to acknowledge and support these counter stories and claims of preferred identities. I’m interested in researching how citizen initiatives are creating spaces for narrative practices and how people participating in these grassroot community initiatives are affected. Through a social justice approach I hope to make a contribution to local communities and public debate.

Sarah Strauven worked in a Belgian reception centre for asylum seekers for 10 years. As a clinical psychologist concerned with issues of systemic violence, institutional trauma and social justice she trained in narrative therapy and community work. One of Sarah’s involvements with grassroot community initiatives included a mobile interactive art exhibition with Afghan friends.