In 2025, Amalia Katapodis will return to Izmir to evaluate the impact and trace the materials and social relationships formed through the Making the Difference project; supported by an UmArts Dissemination grant to follow up and publish the research process.
‘Making a Difference’ was supported by a Small Visionary Project award for Robert Mull, Amalia Katapodis and Sangram Shirke to investigate how displaced populations establish and maintain their identity and wellbeing whilst in transit and during the process of permanent settlement. They worked in the Turkish City of Izmir where Syrian refugees became trapped following the 2016 EU- Turkey deal. With students from Umeå University and local partners they used participatory methods to design and build a classroom on the roof of TIAFI Community Centre which provides practical and educational support to Syrian woman and children. The project was exhibited at the Royal Academy in London in 2023.
This project improved the lives of vulnerable refugees and provides new knowledge and best practice as to how architecture and design can engage with one of the most urgent challenges facing our global society. The need is immediate and growing and we are privileged to play a small part in addressing this challenge by realising this project.
