RESEARCH

Thriving Spaces: Greening Refugee Settlements

The Lemon Tree Trust’s urban agriculture initiative in Domiz Camp, Iraq, empowers refugees through home gardening. The results of this initiative include improved access to fresh food, enhanced mental health, and increased community engagement and self-sufficiency.
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Summary

This article discusses the implementation of urban agriculture initiatives in refugee camps, specifically focusing on the Lemon Tree Trust’s “greening innovation” project in Domiz Camp, Iraq. The project involved identifying and supporting refugees already engaged in home gardening by providing resources like seeds, trees, and seedlings, and by recruiting women as facilitators to promote home gardening. Activities included planting trees, cultivating gardens for food and ornamental flowers, and establishing a plant nursery within the camp.

The results showed that these initiatives not only improved access to fresh food and beautified the camp environment but also fostered a sense of ownership, increased self-sufficiency, and improved the mental health and morale of refugees. Challenges included overcoming the perception of camps as temporary spaces and integrating refugee expertise in areas like wastewater reuse. By including the refugee population in infrastructure discussions and leveraging their skills, the project strengthened relationships between camp managers and inhabitants, while also creating jobs and providing a cultural mechanism for navigating feelings of loss.

Link

Perkinis, C., Adam-Bradford, A., & Tomkins, M. (2017). Thriving spaces: Greening refugee settlements. Forced Migration Review, 55, 46-48.

 

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