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My Research Practice

The Moment of The Move

— Oluwakemi Oluwunmi

About My Project :  

I am exploring participatory research in collaboration with other migrant students across universities in Leeds, who also relocated with their families to the UK. The project aims at helping migrants reduce the time it takes to experience a sense of belonging through instructional photography, by providing simple useful information to guide our decisions on basic needs such as accommodation, managing recurring bills, and avoiding unnecessary charges/fines to mention a few. My work is diaristic with a sense of playfulness. It is very intimate, in that it includes documenting members of my family as we explore and enjoy daily life in a new country and the tough impact of migration that accompanies the experience.

Context of my work:

As a migrant student with my spouse and kids; managing the cultural differences and adapting to a new life in the UK was initially challenging and interesting at the same time. It later became increasingly concerning to me, and it called for earnest attention when I discovered through participatory research in collaboration with other international students that many of our experiences are mutual. To help achieve the aim of my project, I created a virtual community on Facebook to collaborate with other migrants, to help one another by sharing real time encounters and ultimately improve our total well-being.

Did you migrate with your spouse and children? Did you go through any challenge before you settled in the UK? Are you still going through any challenge and you wish to share? I HEREBY INVITE YOU TO EXPLORE AND RESEARCH THIS PROJECT WITH ME by joining the discussion on my Facebook private group

Scan to join my Facebook group

Author

Oluwakemi is a photographer from Nigeria, currently running a full-time postgraduate course in Photography at Leeds Arts University.

After the COVID-19 lockdown, she began engaging with therapeutic photography techniques aimed at producing positive change in individuals, couples or families.

She is fascinated by, and is exploring how art can instruct and guide us through informed choices as migrants with the ultimate goal of improving our total well-being.

My Aim

  • My art is about people. I am very passionate about helping people through active listening, writing and timely actions. I believe we are all stronger together and the primary vehicle to achieve this is effective communication.
  • Success in life is largely about the decisions we make which is based on the information we have. As a migrant student with my family in Leeds, UK, I want to share my story perhaps it would help you make informed choices and avoid some unpleasant experiences if you choose to migrate.
  • I hope my writings would get to you who have also chosen to embrace migration especially if you plan to migrate with children and spouse.
  • I am deliberate about sustainability practices and total well-being. When we are well we can be more to ourselves and our world at large.
  • Someday, I hope to read comments about how informative my blog has been to you. I look forward to a life-changing impact on you.

#migrantstudent #photography #sharing #instruction #guide

Kemi Oluwunmi, 12th November, 2022 at Whitby