Centring Refugee and Asylum Seeker Children in Speculations for a Green Future

This proposal addresses the lack of research focusing on asylum seeker and refugee children's experiences within urban spaces. With millions displaced globally, including a rise in unaccompanied asylum seeker children in the UK, understanding their navigation and vision in urban environments is crucial.

The research aims to answer key questions: 1- How do asylum seeker and refugee children experience and access urban spaces? 2- How do these children position themselves within cities? 3- What place-making practices do children employ within urban environments? 4- How might children imagine and design their future cities?

Utilising a framework of urban and cultural ecology, the study emphasises interactions between people and their urban environment, as well as the role of cultural media in reflecting and shaping urban spaces. Collaborating with children to create cultural media allows them to reflect on their identities and place within

the urban landscape. The research consists of two phases: a. Reading circles and workshops to explore children's experiences and perspectives. b. Using geo games to reimagine urban spaces, allowing children to participate in designing their future environments. Partnerships with organisations in Palestine and the UK will facilitate participant recruitment and ensure ethical

conduct. Consent procedures will be ongoing, and data handling will adhere to GDPR regulations. By providing a platform for displaced children to express their views and contribute to discussions about their environment, this research aims to empower them and advocate for their inclusion in urban planning

processes. The findings will be compiled into a children's book collaboratively created with participating children, highlighting their voices and visions for the future of urban spaces