Reflections from 2023 Summer Program on Forced Migration and Borders
From July 17 through July 29 2023, CFD held a Summer Program on Forced Migration and Borders at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Political Science in Belgrade, Serbia. This project was designed and spearheaded by the CFD Director of Programs, Marina Lazetic, in partnership with the Faculty of Political Science, University of Belgrade, Faculty of Political Science, University of Sarajevo, and Sarajevo School of Science and Technology. One workshop, during the summer school was facilitated by faculty colleague Pouya Ahmadi from the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD).
We share reflections from three BU students who participated in the program: Evrosina Awad (political science, class of 2025), Nihal Kariparduc (chemistry, class of 2024), and Shay Walker (religion and African American studies, class of 2024).
Evrosina Awad
“My experience traveling to Serbia with the Center for Forced Displacement and learning about Forced Displacement and Migration was one of the most educational experiences I have had at Boston University. There is something so powerful about being in the location you are learning about. What I learned in those couple of weeks is more than I would have learned in a semester taking a class. While traveling and being in such a fast-paced environment can be stressful, it was beyond worth it. This is not an experience that I thought I could participate in. However, now that I have, I am even more thankful to be given the opportunity to learn about migration in the context of a region I would not have otherwise had the opportunity to learn about.”
Nihal Kariparduc
“The time I spent at the Summer School on Forced Displacement in Belgrade, Serbia was a very valuable experience for me. As a student in the physical sciences, I rarely get the opportunity to engage in social science coursework in such a comprehensive way. The short two weeks we got to spend at Belgrade allowed me to learn about Forced Displacement, the Balkan Route to the European Union, and the many challenges (health, violence, unaccompanied minors, etc.) surrounding the topics at hand.
In addition to the very informative seminars from various academics, NGOs, GOs, and artists, I learned a lot from my peers in Serbia, Bosnia, and the U.S.A. A lot of learning took place inside and outside of the classroom. When difficult conversations were brought up, many students were vocal about their viewpoints. Many of us coming to the program had experience working with forcefully displaced individuals, and this program gave us an opportunity to share our viewpoints while learning from our peers residing in different areas of the world. The Summer School of Forced Displacement not only immersed me into the field, but it also gave me tools I need to learn and contribute more.”
Shay Walker:
“When I first applied to the Serbia Trip I had no clue what I was getting myself into, and no true expectations for what I would come to learn over the course of this Summer School. I was attracted to this opportunity by the topic at hand, ‘Forced Displacement’. As an African-American, forced displacement is a concept I am quite familiar with because it is the basis of how my ethnic group was formed. Today, we are years away from the initial moment in which people were stolen from their homes and forced into American slavery, but the many externalities that are rooted in this initial act of forceful displacement still live on to this very moment. I applied in hopes of discovering more about myself, the state of my own peoples, and of the world in General. After being accepted into this program I was elated, but still had many questions.
While in Serbia, I was introduced to a world that I otherwise would have remained ignorant to without this program. I was quickly made aware of the struggles of others that reached depths I couldn’t have ever fathomed before. I was made aware of just how dire the situations of people on the move worldwide have become in my very own lifespan, and how they seemingly continue to worsen despite us having the knowledge, funding, and technology to make migration safer for all. The summer school program introduced us to many different perspectives including those of: Serbian Residents/ Students, Refugees, and even UNICEF representatives. I appreciated the fact that facilitators encouraged students to form their own understanding and analysis of the things being presented to us regardless of who the speaker was.
This region of the world was full of beautiful people with varying backgrounds, however, all seemed to share in the frustration that often grows when there is lack of progression. In this case, the lack of progression primarily surrounded the EU’s handling of the influx of people on the move through the Balkan region with hopes of reaching Western Europe. Over the course of a few short weeks, I found that in many ways we are all alike, and even saw traces of my own history and identity as in African-American in the present day ‘Migration Crisis’ taking place in Europe. These similarities included: the use of policy to negatively impact the perception of foreign people groups, the great lengths of travel some are often forced to take for just a chance at freedom, and the uncomfortability that comes along with settling in a place different from your home.
This experience was eye-opening and one that I will never forget. I am grateful for the relationships, learning experiences, and cultural knowledge that was cultivated on this trip. I will be recommending this opportunity to anyone I think may benefit from it moving forward. Most importantly, I am thankful that The Center for Forced Displacement allows space for programming such as this, and welcomed me into this life changing experience.”