Having one good friend can make a difference

Marginalization of forced immigrants
The University of Bournemouth did research into ways how leisure and forms of physical activity can have an important role in the lives of refugees and forced migrants. 

To quote Dr Nicola De Martini Ugolotti; “Forced migrants are often marginalised and considered to be a problem that needs to be solved or managed, or to be objects of charitable interventions at best,” he says. “They can be viewed as a threat to the UK or as traumatised victims. One of the implications of this which has been highlighted by my research is that to be a refugee means to be stuck in this label where you are just a victim or a ‘bogus’ refugee, and it’s very hard to escape from those labels.” 

The research is aimed at exploring how seemingly mundane activities matter in the life of someone who is seeking asylum, and to see the relevance of these practices in helping to displace or change the narratives about forced migration. Sports, culture, art, and many other facets of leisure bring added meaning to the lives of many. ‘This is not any different for forced immigrants. Leisure brings joy, leisure brings connections and leisure is a human right’ (United Nations, 1948).

One friend can be the portal
Buddy to Buddy is an amazing example of low-key mundane activities that have an impact on the lives of many of these forced migrants. Buddy to Buddy is working in no fewer than 12 municipalities in the Netherlands to connect newcomers to fellow citizens. Newcomers and fellow citizens are paired up one on one to enter into a four-month Buddyship. The most important spearheads are equality, linking based on the same interests and the desire for sustainable and accessible contact. The Buddyship is not only about opening up your world and learning about new cultures. It is also about making new friendships and breaking through the social isolation among status holders and integrated refugees. They meet each other, from having a cup of coffee together to meeting each other’s family and friends at Christmas or the Sugar Fest. Buddy to Buddy shows that an empathic and compassionate approach is wished-for in impactful leisure activities. It brings the individual needs into collective surroundings without forcing anything on anyone.

Theater performance
In the grand performance ‘Hoe ik talent voor het leven kreeg’ (based on the book by Rodaan Al Galidi) theater, music and dance come together. An interesting mix of actors, musicians and dozens of newcomers work together to tell the penetrating and humorous story of a young man who applies for asylum in the Netherlands. They take you along into the bizarre lives of the people who live and work in the asylum seekers’ center and who sometimes get hopelessly entangled in the system. Through theater they let you experience what it’s like to deal with things that you as a Dutch Citizen have nothing to do with on a daily basis. It makes visitor look at the system differently.

There is also a connected Expedition, which is a melting pot of worlds and perspectives. People from the AZC, newcomers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, theatre lovers, artists, visitors, and anyone else who wants to join in come together to broaden their horizons, meet each other and discuss the question: how do we accommodate people in a humane way? And why is the encounter between ‘old’ and ‘new’ Dutch people still sometimes difficult? (www.talentvoorhetleven.nl).

Leisure for impact
The word Leisure is derived either from the Latin word ‘licere’ meaning ‘to be free’ or the Old French ‘leisir’ with the meaning ‘to enjoy oneself’. These two combined makes that leisure is about individual personal experiences. That leisure time is different for every individual. Contradictory, leisure time is also about connecting, about meeting the other, meeting the unknown and meeting an experience. About shared experiences.

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Photography by Emma Pierre Buddy to Buddy