PhD / RESEARCH

My PhD, which I gained at the University of Reading, is titled Identity, Transnational, Translocal Activities and Intergenerational Relationships for Young Zimbabweans in the U.K. The research looks at young Zimbabweans aged 18-30 years living in the U.K. who migrated with their families as refugees or on a working visa (often termed the 1.5 generation), and international students form an essential part of this migration from Zimbabwe to the U.K. The project used feminist qualitative methodology and participatory action methods (PAR) to provide insight into the migratory journeys to understand and highlight contemporary immigration issues and experiences of belonging in different spaces. The research devotes attention to how education, work, relationships, race, social networks, intergenerational relations and cultural practices shape young people's identities and establish their participation in the U.K. and the notion of home.

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RESEARCH

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My research and public engagement work involves seldom-heard and marginalised groups. I have developed the ability to work consistently at a high level of engagement with different groups through personal skills, understanding and appreciation of the diverse communities I work with. Therefore, I have drawn out tangible outcomes that make a real difference in people’s lives because of my well-developed people skills, building trust and compassion. I engage with other academics, professional staff, and students without these experiences to explain, scaffold, and guide their research and community engagements.

 

1. Ageing Well - I led the participatory research working with our Undergraduate Research Opportunities Placement students with residents aged 55 and over in Reading from the BAMER (Black, Asian, Minority, Ethnic, Refugee). I sought a better understanding of the challenges experienced by local organisations and service providers in reaching out to this age group, what works and what does not, the logistical difficulties that the various organisations face, their experience of networking and what support these organisations would like to have from local authorities. People from BAMER background communities are often underrepresented in policy-making, but my research on Arts, Culture and Heritage (ACH) enabled me to embed the findings of this research into impactful policy.

2. Student Community Champions (SCC) work with the University's Dean of Equality Diversity and Inclusion. I worked with the Dean of EDI, leading a Student Community Champions (SCC) pilot project on the community engagement strategy with Black Asian Minority Ethnicity Refugees (BAMER) in the Berkshire area. Some of this piece of work has fed into the HE Race Equality Charter Mark – Bronze Award, University of Sanctuary Award.

3. Oxford Road Research Project and Lifespring Stories 2020-2024.    Oxford Road stories -. I shaped participatory research methods by working with the participants and local organisations so that they could lead the dissemination of the research. The Oxford Road stories were then curated at the Reading Museum and an art mural on Oxford Road that participants chose, with local people bringing their own voices. Building relationships and collaborative work created trust, and other projects were developed within this research by local groups using participatory methods. This integration underscores the project's relevance and influence in shaping academic discourse, highlighting its potential for decolonising language in academia and dissemination relevant to community groups.                                                            Oxford Road Book - May to July 2024, working with 5 PhD/Master students, I led the writing of the Oxford Road Stories book. The Oxford Road research project stories received significant media attention, including features on the BBC, the Economist, and TV. This recognition underscores the impact and importance of our grassroots work with underrepresented communities, further amplifying the voices of the Oxford Road community. The book Lifespring Stories: The Many Faces of Reading, UK was published in September 2024.

4. British Science Association and University of Reading Community-Led Research Pilot –Co-leading a pilot project with the British Science Association (BSA) funded by UKRI, which started with 13 groups across Reading and Slough in 2022, centring on participatory action research methods with communities seldom heard in research or those from minoritised communities. I continue to work with six community groups that were subsequently awarded further funding and ten researchers from different academic disciplines at the university and elsewhere. Some of the groups I am working with have gone on to win local and national awards. Engine Room –was a run-up and was recognised for its research by the UK Arts Minister and Slough Community Groups – One Slough Awards.

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