Beauty in the built environment and refugee self-reliance

Abstract

This policy brief explores the often-overlooked impact of purposeful home beautification practices on refugees’ well-being and their potential contributions to the Global Compact on Refugees’ (the Compact) objective of increasing refugee self-reliance. It demonstrates that purposeful home beautification practices among refugees, ranging from physical modifications to daily rituals, not only enhance individual and community well-being but also serve as a tangible means for refugees to exert agency, integrate past and present experiences, and heal from trauma. These acts of beautification, extending from individual homes to community spaces, foster hope, build community bonds, and exhibit resistance and resilience. The brief underscores the integral role of beautification in catalyzing and redefining self-reliance for refugees, challenging conventional frameworks and urging policymakers to recognize refugees as active contributors to their communities rather than passive recipients of aid.