EMPOWERING CHANGE: REFUGEE AGENCY IN REFUGEE-LED GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS

In recent decades, scholarly research on displacement and forced migration has increasingly shifted attention from primarily focusing on the legal and structural elements to also include the agency of forced migrants. While increasing attention is paid to migrant agency, most studies focus on their actions during a journey, their taking an active role in camp governance or camp design, and their personal experience(s) or those of their families. Less scholarly work studies how refugees exercise agency after leaving refugee camps. In this article, refugee agency is examined through the framework of political and social actions aimed at recognizing shared needs or injustices, and then addresses shortcomings that mark and "make" refugees different in society. This article draws from in-depth interviews with members of a refugee-led community support organization to explore how this organization assists newly arrived refugees in New Zealand. This organization's locally focused approach emphasizes establishing refugee advocacy networks, solidarity, and fostering a sense of belonging. Also discussed is how the organization's locally focused approach helps it to provide tailored support to address the immediate and dynamic needs of newly arrived refugees.