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Human Rights and Displacement: A Creative Engagement Workshop
The Human Rights and Displacement workshop took place on 20 June 2025 at the Grassmarket Community Project in Edinburgh. Twenty-one participants came together from community groups, NGOs, universities, and creative backgrounds. The day was shaped around conversation, creativity, and reflection, a chance to think collectively about how human rights can help support those affected by displacement.
We began with a short introduction to the aims of the day — to create a friendly, open space where participants could share experiences, ideas, and creative work. The morning session included four speakers, each offering a different perspective. Heather Komenda from the International Organization for Migration spoke about migration governance and protection; Suzanne Hoff from La Strada International discussed trafficking and labour exploitation; Kiril Sharapov from Edinburgh Napier University reflected on human rights approaches to displacement; and Frederik Køhlert, also from Edinburgh Napier University, explored how comics and visual storytelling can give shape to lived experiences of migration.
After a short break, we watched two films, Voices from Ipswich and Car Wash, made by refugee filmmakers Mikiyas Mehari and Brook Woldu. Their work opened space for thoughtful discussions about the everyday realities of displacement, migration, work, and belonging. Participants shared what stayed with them and spoke about how creative storytelling can challenge stereotypes and create space for empathy and understanding.
Lunch gave participants time to talk more informally, share reflections, and learn about each other’s work. In the afternoon, the focus shifted to hands-on activities. Participants started by sharing objects with personal meaning — items linked to movement, memory, or home. These conversations led into a comic-making workshop led by Frederik Køhlert. Using simple drawings and short narratives, participants created one- or two-frame comics inspired by their own experiences and hopes. For many, drawing became a new way to express feelings and stories that are often hard to put into words.
We closed with the Tree of Hope. Each participant was invited to write a word or two expressing their hopes for the future — words like peace, belonging, friendship, justice, or home — and place them on a large paper tree. As the tree filled up, it became a bright, collective artwork representing optimism, connection, and shared hope.
As the day came to an end, participants spoke about how valuable it had been to have time together — to listen, create, and reflect in a supportive space. Beyond the drawings and post-its, this event helped develop new connections, ideas for collaboration, and a renewed belief in the power of creativity and community to build more hopeful futures.
The workshop was organised and chaired by Dr Kiril Sharapov as part of the Migration and Mobilities Research Network’s public engagement activities. It formed part of UK Refugee Week and the Scottish Refugee Festival and was generously supported by Edinburgh Napier University’s Public Engagement funding.