Solidarity with refugees in Portugal: A collaborative research

Abstract

The so-called refugee crisis encouraged the expression of different forms of solidarity and activism, opposing increasingly oppressive asylum policies. New solidarity movements and social participation projects were created, stimulated by the relationships established between newcomers and civil society. However, grassroots refugee activism seems to have remained less visible, despite its frontline support in crucial areas such as language interpretation and mediation. Refugee activists are regarded as fundamental sources of support; but they usually assume a secondary role in solidarity projects. Some remain as volunteers for years, despite submitting their own projects and filling important gaps in the institutional support system. This article, a co-production between a researcher in Anthropology and two refugee activists leading an association exclusively formed by refugees (União de Refugiados em Portugal- UREP) reflects about refugees’ informal solidarity networks. The three authors will be looking into the solidarity arising between refugee activists and newly arrived refugees, underlining how it emerged from specific problems created by gaps in the institutional support system. In writing collaboratively, the authors expect to shed light on the daily struggles of refugee activists and to enrich the academic debate with the shared reflections that have emerged from a collective community- based work.