The four peer researchers who supported this research were identified and recruited via our two Afghan partner organisations. The peer researchers were provided with online training and we had regular communication via WhatsApp and via email. Moreover, with the exception of one peer researcher who moved outside London, we met with the peer researchers in person on several occasions, including at the focus groups and during some individual interviews, where they provided assistance with translation, as well as during visits to the community organisations.
The peer researchers played a key role in the recruitment of participants. Because two of the peer researchers were themselves recently arrived refugees, they were well placed to connect us to other recent arrivals, including several who were hotel residents. It is largely due to the endeavours of the four peer researchers that we were able to access such a wide variety of participants, especially those still located in the hotels.
We invited the peer researchers to share their reflections with us in this report and two have provided the following brief summaries of their experiences.
Photo credit: Ajmal Afhgan via Pexels
Reflections from peer researchers
I am writing about my experience of doing research with Afghans in London. It was an interesting job because I met more people and heard their different life experiences in London. Some people experienced a challenging life and some of them were similar to my own life in London.
Actually, after the crisis in Afghanistan, I was looking for a volunteering job in order to take a small part, along with others, to help Afghan refugees. When I heard about this project I sent my CV and after the interview I was very excited for this opportunity to be involved in the research project run by the team from London Metropolitan University.
Therefore, I learned from this project effective communication and management skills. I also had a chance to work and meet experienced researchers and learned how to have good collaboration with colleagues.
Although I did have professional work experience in Afghanistan, since I came to the UK, 5 years ago, I did not do office work or anything similar to this project because of my lack of confidence.
Working as a peer researcher makes me more confident and gives me motivation for other work. It was like a key for a better start. Now, I am more confident about other jobs and familiar with confidentiality, patience and priorities during work. I am also able to manage meetings or other programs on time.
As an Afghan woman who left everything behind and experienced emigration in exile, I knew what it meant to be a refugee. Therefore, I got interested in getting involved in this research with Afghan refugees in London in order to give back my time and expertise to my own community.
I believe my previous experience working with the Afghan community, would help to reach out to relevant Afghan refugees and therefore help this research project to be more insightful.
In the meantime, being involved in this project, working with a professional research team from London Metropolitan University, has enabled me to transfer my knowledge in a new setting and to develop new skills and knowledge.