This project “Co-creating the Values of World Heritage Sites with Refugees: A World View Perspective” is proposed by Hope. She is doing her PhD research with UNESCO Chair in Refugee Integration through Languages and the Arts (UNESCO RILA) and with the support of the UK National Commission for UNESCO (UNESCO UK) between 2022 and 2025. This project aims to use UNESCO designations as sites of restorative Integration and embodied decoloniality and seeks to broaden the scope of refugee integration and build a multicultural and more inclusive heritage education
World Heritage Sites hold outstanding universal value and belong to everyone. They were established through human resettlement, interactions, and value exchanges, making them significant spaces for people to communicate, establish identity, and feel a sense of belonging. They have the potential to bring people together and foster integration.
Refugees are unique individuals with diverse cultural backgrounds, rich creativity, and entitled to cultural rights. However, they often face multiple social and cultural challenges, leading to a lack of resources. Therefore, by making heritage inclusive for refugees, we can create a more inclusive World Heritage Site (WHS) for everyone.
The UK has a comprehensive value-based world heritage system, and Scotland has a New Scots refugee integration policy. Additionally, there are organizations such as UNESCO RILA and numerous groups supporting migrants and refugees. It is an opportune moment to create a model of refugee integration within the heritage sector, involving the appropriate individuals.