top of page
The SolidariTee Blog
At SolidariTee, we believe knowledge is the first step towards meaningful change.
In addition to information about news, events and developments connected to SolidariTee's work, our blog often features pieces written and researched by our student volunteers, covering topics ranging from policy changes through to book reviews.
We are always looking for writers to contribute pieces that support people to learn more about issues affecting people who move across borders, and to engage with the perspectives, ideas, and solutions created by those with lived experience of displacement. If you're interested in contributing, please send central@solidaritee.org.uk an email with an idea for a topic you'd like to write about - both students and non-students alike are welcome to do so!
Search
How Are Drugs and Gangs Used to Fearmonger Citizens Into Siding With Anti-Migrant Rhetoric?
I’m Tegan, a third-year Marine and Freshwater Biology student at Aberystwyth University and a member of Solidaritee Aberystwyth. I have only recently started volunteering with SolidariTee, but I have loved meeting people who share the same passion to make a real impact. This piece explores how the politicisation of fear with the 'drugs and gangs' narrative is used to push harmful and hostile rhetoric towards migrants and refugees. Fear is one of the most powerful drivers of a
Team SolidariTee
Mar 307 min read
Europe’s New Border Reality: Criminalisation, Deterrence, and the Future of Asylum
Vasiliki Papadima is a postgraduate student in International Relations and Diplomacy. Her work explores global governance, geopolitics, and international law, with a particular interest in migration, security, and the changing dynamics of European policy. In this piece, Vasiliki explores how Denmark and Greece 'reveal the same direction' toward asylum deterrence and criminalisation but 'through different tools', with reference to Europe's wider trend of border externalisatio
Team SolidariTee
Mar 710 min read
Early Childhood Education in Crisis: Rethinking Care, Dignity, and Displacement
I’m Sally Ocharo, an MA student in International Development at ARU Cambridge, with a strong background in Early Childhood Education and International Development, having worked in advocacy, policy, research, and curriculum design. I’ve dedicated over 10 years to early childhood care, including contributing to crisis settings such as Kenya’s Turkana County near Kakuma Refugee Camp. These experiences ignited my passion for providing stability and routines that foster healing
Team SolidariTee
Mar 33 min read
What factors drive and influence displacement and migration in Africa’s Sahel Region?
My name is Ansar, and I'm from Queen Margaret University. I'm now studying Psychology and Sociology. For as long as I can remember, I've been interested in migration issues, always trying to understand the reasons why people leave their homes, how to solve this problem, how to support them, and so on. I was drawn to this topic about the Sahel because I wanted to understand more about the scope of the issues in this area and to delve deeper into the subject. This piece explore
Team SolidariTee
Feb 286 min read
How does Europe use technology to manage its borders?
This blog piece was written by Olga, a second-year International Relations and Sociology student who joined SolidariTee’s Glasgow team in September 2025. In it, she explores the role of technology and profit in facilitating Europe’s racialised border outsourcing policies, and what this means for engagement with reparative justice and responsibility. Introduction What comes to mind when you think of technology? Perhaps you think of phones, computers, or other devices which are
Team SolidariTee
Feb 2713 min read
Reflecting Back on 2025 - Looking Ahead to 2026.
This piece is based on two interviews Radhika held with SolidariTee's CEO, Alexa Netty. Looking backwards, looking forwards, they explore the significance and importance of movements like SolidariTee in today's political context. This is a special publication for our annual Week of Action, 2nd - 8th February. Follow our socials to see more! I'm Radhika, a second-year Economics and Politics student at the University of Bristol and Team Lead for SolidariTee Bristol. During my t
Team SolidariTee
Feb 44 min read
Girl, Woman, Other: A Powerful Reflection On Identity
I'm Radhika, a second-year Economics and Politics student at the University of Bristol and Team Lead for SolidariTee Bristol. During my time at uni, I've studied migration and refugees, leading to my passion for the cause, which encouraged me to start the Bristol branch at SolidariTee. I've volunteered at SolidariTee for nearly a year now, and it's been one of the most enriching experiences I've had at university. I've loved meeting like-minded people (with our team growing t
Team SolidariTee
Feb 32 min read
The Sudan’s conflict: Neglected, not Forgotten
This blog post was written by Caterina Ame Pellecchia, a recent Master’s graduate in International Human Rights Law, with strong interests in geopolitics, European border and mobility politics, migration and refugee rights, and social justice. She has been volunteering with SolidariTee since September 2025 as part of the University of Liverpool regional team. How Sudan's Past Shaped its Present Conflict The ongoing conflict in Sudan did not begin on 15 April 2023, when figh
Team SolidariTee
Jan 136 min read
'Exit West' by Mohsin Hamid: The panoptic Western reader and necropolitical surveillance
Exit West is a book published in 2017 by Mohsin Hamid, the author of a number of other pivotal books including The Reluctant Fundamentalist. In the 2025/26 academic year, a small group of SolidariTee volunteers have set up an 'asynchronous book club' where instead of everyone being asked to read a book in the same time period ahead of a group discussion, the group voted for a list of titles for everyone to read at their own pace. Once a member has finished a book, they can v
Team SolidariTee
Jan 1112 min read
Asylum-Seeking and Asylum-Hiding: Challenges and Advances in Legal Aid Provision
In this piece, Irina, a current SolidariTee team member and psychology student, explores how the very nature of the asylum system leads to physical and mental harms for those in need of international protection, and unpacks the context around SolidariTee's focus on supporting organisations to adopt holistic and trauma-informed approaches that ensure legal assistance goes hand-in-hand with mental health support. “When you try to make an appointment, it is full, you have to go
Team SolidariTee
Nov 18, 20258 min read
A legal victory for M*, a client of Fenix Humanitarian Legal Aid
This week, we received an uplifting message from Fenix Humanitarian Legal Aid , an organisation we have supported since SolidariTee was first set up. M* a client of Fenix's , who they have been supporting closely for many months, has finally been granted refugee status after a years-long legal struggle. M is a queer person who was initially rejected when he applied for asylum. M has past experiences of persecution and abuse that make this rejection very unjust. Unfortunately
Team SolidariTee
Nov 7, 20253 min read
SolidariTee comments on racist demonstrations in the UK this month
On Saturday 13th September, more than 110,000 people marched through London's capital under a so-called 'Unite the Kingdom' event rooted...
Team SolidariTee
Sep 18, 20255 min read
News this week: unpacking concerning developments in policies affecting people seeking safety in the UK and Greece
Backround: a global trend of eroding safety Over the past week, there have been two separate, devastating blows to the last few remaining...
Team SolidariTee
Sep 5, 20255 min read
Passionate about peer mentorship? We're looking for three new University Coordinators to join our Central Team!
After an amazing response to our calls this summer inviting people to join the SolidariTee team, we are absolutely delighted to have had...
Team SolidariTee
Jul 24, 20253 min read
Escalation of Conflict in Iran: the dangers for political prisoners
This post shares two letters: one written by Iranian activist, author and artist Nasrin Parvaz, who is herself a survivor or torture in...
Team SolidariTee
Jun 20, 20255 min read
SolidariTee x AsyLex Rights In Exile Collaboration: call for legal research volunteers
We are delighted to be partnering with AsyLex on updating and maintaining the Rights in Exile platform, which supports people seeking...
Team SolidariTee
May 30, 20253 min read
Refugee Law in Theory and Practice: Summer School hosted by Defence for Children International - Greece
For the second year running, we are delighted to be sharing a call for registrations for a week long Summer Academy hosted by SolidariTee...
Team SolidariTee
May 18, 20255 min read
SolidariTee Leadership Team Positions: Applications Open Now!
SolidariTee first registered as a charity in 2019, following an explosion of momentum built as a grassroots student movement in the two...
Team SolidariTee
Mar 16, 20253 min read
SolidariTee Annual Report 2023 - 2024
We are delighted to be able to share our annual report for the 23-24 academic year, with enormous thanks to the hundreds of volunteers,...
Team SolidariTee
Dec 28, 20242 min read
SolidariTee Strategy 2024 - 2026
In 2023 and 2024, SolidariTee worked to develop and formalise our strategy for the 2024-26 academic and financial years. We are delighted...
Team SolidariTee
Dec 24, 20242 min read
bottom of page