Calais is a town in the North of France that migrants have long used as a transit zone. They live there temporarily while waiting to depart from France, usually because their asylum applications have been ignored or lost in bureaucratic processes. Some refugees wait years to hear anything back, and while the application is being considered, they cannot access housing or medical services. This makes Calais the best bet for some migrants, as they can set up camp and wait to leave in search of more opportunities for receiving protection and assistance. This is not an ideal situation, and that is what guides my research. I hope to find out why this problem persists and in what ways the lack of assistance given to migrant communities journeying across the English Channel violates the 1951 Refugee Convention, The Refugee Convention is a key pillar of international law and sets out the rules that countries (who are party to the convention) must follow to protect the basic human rights of refugees. It's a dense document, and part of my research is dissecting it and all of its numerous additions in recent years. Beyond this, I also work with a local NGO in Paris called, ”Serve the City”, which allows me to engage with refugee communities in Paris. This work gives me insight into the asylum process and the perspective of individuals who have come out the other side successfully, receiving permanent residency in France. All of this combined with my coursework will prepare me for my thesis. Studying abroad can be an extremely useful experience for advancing your academic goals. In my case, not only did I find a topic by leaving the U.S., but I am now able to gain critical expertise on the topic by studying in France!
