Dr. Bernhard Streitwieser, Associate Professor of International Education and International Affairs, is the founding director of the George Washington University Refugee Educational Advancement Laboratory (REAL). He joined students and faculty of REAL to produce a new book, Accessing Quality Education: Local and Global Perspectives from Refugees. It was conceived, researched and written entirely by members of REAL.
Dr. Streitwieser recently unveiled the book during an expert panel for Harvard University’s Diwan Organization titled, "Luminosity Through Learning: Illuminating Refugee Education." The event was co-hosted by the GW REAL and moderated by REAL student co-leader, Jacqueline Hatch.
Per the book description:
This book shares the experiences of refugees settled in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia area (DMV) over the last ten years and their journeys back into education. What motivated their paths to access and success in education? What were their dreams and aspirations? What obstacles stood in their way and how did they overcome them? Who helped them along the way? What advice do they have for others experiencing displacement? Finally, what can institutions and policymakers do to integrate them more successfully?
This book was conceived, researched, and written by the students and faculty of The George Washington University Refugee Educational Advancement Laboratory (REAL). Over a year of research, members of the REAL conducted in-depth interviews with students of refugee background and the family members who support them, spoke with practitioners at local, national, and international relief organizations who serve them, and consulted with experts of displacement and reintegration who study them. The findings offer a testament to the persistence of displaced individuals, who are determined to overcome steep odds and achieve their educational dreams. They also offer a clear set of guidelines for institutions, administrators, and policy makers who have it in their power to make a difference.
Reviews say:
A fascinating and detailed on-the-ground look at how refugee families have accessed education in the DMV and how dramatic improvements could be made. This painstaking local study has national significance. — Jamie B. Raskin, (Democrat), U.S. Representative, Maryland
An important and illuminating book that draws on detailed research to understand the experience of education for displaced people. Based on a fascinating range of in-depth interviews, it contains very important lessons for policymakers – in particular by promoting refugee inclusion and calling for greater attention to their perceptions and experience. — Tom Scott-Smith, Director, Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford
Drawing from an ambitious student-faculty collaborative study from the Refugee Educational Advancement Laboratory, this book offers not only a much-needed glimpse into the lived experience of displacement in the context of education, but also actionable steps for a range of actors to take in response. The case study approach allows a detailed picture to emerge with applicability far beyond the DC, Maryland, and Virginia metro area. An accessible, important work with wide appeal. — Lisa Ruth Brunner, University of British Columbia Centre for Migration Studies