Anti-Oppressive Social Work Research: Prioritising Refugee Voices in Kakuma Refugee Camp

Abstract

ABSTRACT Research studies with refugee young people (RYP) commonly recognise researchers’ theoretical and methodological approaches with respect to their work. Minimal scholarship, however, considers the process of research participation from the perspectives of RYP, particularly in refugee camps. Social work researchers interested in facilitating research with RYP should not only evaluate how participants understand research, but also acknowledge their participants’ potential recommendations for improvement. Adhering to principles of ‘ethical research’ with RYP, this qualitative paper explores (a) the previous research experiences of a sample of RYP living in Kakuma refugee camp and (b) two participant-inspired research recommendations for future research in Kakuma, with implications for other refugee camp settings. Grounded in previous research experiences, RYP interviewees claim that their expectations of participating in research have been largely unmet and that researchers have instilled false promises. Consequently, RYP offered several recommendations for future research/researchers in Kakuma. This study offers two recommendations, which advise researchers to (1) follow up with research recommendations, and (2) reflect on research and researchers’ personal objectives in Kakuma. These recommendations align indirectly with principles of anti-oppressive research (AOR) practices.