Drawing Together: Relational wellbeing in the lives of young refugees in Finland, Norway and the UK

In this project we explore which opportunities young refugees have to create social networks and quality of life (relational wellbeing) in Finland, Norway, and Scotland. We ask: How foes relational wellbeing develop over time, in different cultural and political contexts?

We follow the same group of young adults over three years. Vi explore how young people describe and illustrate their networks and important relations, and interview people that they experience to be important for them. 

In order to portray nuanced stories, we work with creative research methods. Together with an art therapist and visual artist they create collages which reflect the relational wellbeing today, in childhood and wished for the future. In October 2023 vi had an exhibition in Bergen at Kunstgarasjen. 

The project is lead by Professor Ravi Kohli, University av Bedfordshire, and is locally managed by NORCE, and is funded by NORDFORSK. UiB and HVL are important collaborators.