The research process for this project has changed my perspective on both my topic of study and my own capacity as a leader quite profoundly. I began my research believing I might find a neat, overarching solution to integrating refugees and asylum seekers into Irish politics. Instead I developed a deep appreciation for the diversity of the Irish refugee population in Ireland and the ensuing complexity of the issue at hand. 

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to political integration for refugees and asylum seekers. There is so much variation in education levels, employment and financial situation, political background and simply level of interest in politics among the thousands of refugees and asylum seekers scattered across Ireland. There is also an enormous variation in local attitudes towards both refugees and local politics, and uneven resources and engagement by local politicians and county councils. The more I looked, the greater the differences in experiences of both refugees and service providers. 

With this variety came the administrative difficulties of finding and contacting people to participate in this research. How to systematically interview such a broad range of service providers across so many different environments? I couldn’t. Initially, this realisation felt like failure to me, a by-the-book student with perfectionist tendencies. In the past, roadblocks of this sort have crippled my motivation and led me to procrastinate indefinitely. Deadlines were looming though, and I had no choice but to continue with the handful of interviews I could arrange. 

This turned out to be a blessing in disguise. By focusing on the details of my interviews with just a few participants, I was able to change how I was looking at my project. I focused less on how political education was provided to set groups of refugees and asylum seekers, and looked more closely at how information was passed on more broadly to refugees in communities across Ireland. This change in perspective helped me to see the current situation in a more positive light: rather than a tangled mess tied to the equally chaotic Irish International Protection system, I started to see what did work: how information was passed to refugees and asylum seekers through community engagement, and how this could be harnessed by service providers to deliver targeted political engagement initiatives involving local communities and local authorities. I also found that by focusing on the details of the project I developed a relationship with participants and found myself empathising with the work that they and their communities did to a much greater extent that I had expected.

While working on my summer 1 research project had forced me to identify both skills that I already possess and ones that need improvement, the biggest lesson I will carry away from this project is to have confidence that things will work out. Being flexible and open to changing my perspective massively impacted my finished project and my development as a researcher and a leader. Going into my second year of Laidlaw I am really excited to continue to learn as I aspire to embody these roles better with every project I undertake.