Research in the community

Media depictions of refugee women as helpless and superfluous persons with children, dislocated, destitute, uprooted and unwanted continue to misrepresent the actuality of their predicament. In reality, women’s roles in society (Tomlinson 2010, Manchanda 2017). This influences employer and host community attitudes and ultimately the quality of refugee experience during resettlement and success of finding work. As a result, an integral part of creating impact in this work has also included raising awareness about displacement to various audiences including general public, current and future decision makers (including students).

Activities raising awareness about the realities of displacement

Raising awareness of Refugee issues among the general public and relevant authorities dealing with refugee resettlement:

Wimalasiri V. (2020) My life as a BAME academic: the trials and tribulations of working in the UK and being from a BAME background. A talk given to the refugee community and local stakeholders including Devon and Cornwall police, Royal Air force in Plymouth at the Annual BAME business awards and gala dinner. Crown Plaza hotel, Plymouth.

Wimalasiri, V (2019) The role of Business Schools in creating a fairer minded society: The Case of raising the real stories about Refugees/ Asylum seekers and work to Business Audiences. AACSB International conference and meeting, Edinburgh, 2019. In: 2019 AACSB International conference and annual meeting, Edinburgh, 2019. 14-16 April 2019 Edinburgh.

Wimalasiri V. (Oct 2019) ‘Home Sweet Home’ co-hosted an exhibition of people’s favourite things when they are away from home. Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM), Exeter.

Wimalasiri, V. (Nov 2018) International Activism: Panel discussion about representing the voices of marginalised communities on a global stage. Women of the World Festival, Exeter 2018, (Southbank Centre, London). More information in blog

Wimalasiri, V. (March 2018). Connecting women and vocation: The story after war. Café Scietifique Bournemouth (2018). More information in blog

Wimalasiri,V. and Phatak, A. (2017) The fragile flavours of Hope (Article on resilience and progress of women resettling in post-war Sri-Lanka). Resurgence. (Magazine covering issues of Activism and Ecology in the UK). March/ April 2017. Article here

Wimalasiri V. (2016) Women’s stories of strength through war and food. Ways with Words Festival, Dartington, Devon. 8th -July 2016.

Working directly with the refugee community on professional development

Dr Varuni Wimalasiri also works directly with community organisations using her research to contribute to professional development of the refugee community. She hosts workshops for free on professional development for the refugee community and other displaced communities.

GROWING OUR DREAMS WORKSHOPS

The workshops are designed using principles drawn from displacement-plurality (Wimalasiri, in press), Intersectionality, creativity (Amabile, 1998) and professional development to help women refugees speak about their lost livelihoods and work towards developing new ones. Workshops have so far been hosted, in partnership with a number of community organisations. These workshops were subsequently funded by the Big Lottery fund and supported by the school for social entrepreneurs and Lloyds bank:

Growing our dreams - with Integra8, at Dartington.

CoLab Exeter: Resilient women programme – A workshop hosted for women displaced through the Justice System (2018);

Plymouth and Devon Race and Equality Council (2017): Workshop hosted for the weekly PDREC women's group.

Integr8 (Refugee integration) 2018: Workshop hosted for monthly social events for local community including members of the refugee community in Dartington.

Crafty seed pots created by participants

A workshop in-session

Project HANDMADE in Sri-Lanka (In collaboration with PALMERA)

Varuni has worked with partner organisation Palmera on their ‘HANDMADE’ project . This is a cookbook and compendium of stories from women who were displaced by the Sri-Lankan civil war. The refugee communities connected to Sri-Lanka has been actively involved in the development of this book, funded by various organisations and the Australian government. All proceeds from sales of the book are dedicated to making tangible difference to the livelihoods of communities affected by war in Sri-Lanka. She has written an article with Palmera to raise awareness about displacement in SL and to assist with sales of the book.

Wimalasiri,V. and Phatak, A. (2017) The fragile flavours of Hope (Article on resilience and progress of women resettling in post-war Sri-Lanka). Resurgence. (Magazine covering issues of Activism and Ecology in the UK). March/ April 2017. Article here

She has also given talks at festivals about the issues raised on this article.

Ways with words festival, Dartington, 2017

Wimalasiri V. (2016) Women’s stories of strength through war and food. Ways with Words Festival, Dartington, Devon. 8th -July 2016.