로라의 글로벌 난민 포럼 R-Space 현장 노트 (로라) Laura’s Field Notes from R-Space at GRF 2025 (Laura)

On December 15-16 I found myself in Geneva and was lucky enough to join 2 of the 27 refugee-led panels at R-Space which was organized in parallel during the GRF (Global Refugee Forum) 2025.

Hanokers being one of the RLO(refugee-led organization)’s that was granted a fund by Asia Pacific Network of Refugees (APNOR), it was a special pleasure to see Najeeba and exchange in-person with Zerrin and Kaya.

That and other encounters reinforced how spaces like R-Space are not only sites of dialogue but also of relationship-building and where shared values around refugee leadership and dignity become visible in person, beyond written proposals and reports.

The session I attended at R-Space highlighted how deeply funding patterns are shaped by dominant narratives within the humanitarian and donor ecosystem about risk, capacity, and control. RLOs are often asked to prove themselves against standards designed without them while operating under structural constraints that are rarely acknowledged.

“RLOs are underfunded not because they are ineffective, but because they challenge how effectiveness is defined.” What personally resonated with me during the session was the emphasis on dignity, safety and narrative ownership. Much of the discussion challenged the humanitarian sector’s tendency to conflate visibility with empowerment and participation with impact. Some refugees spoke candidly about the emotional labor of being repeatedly asked to share their stories, often within structures that offer little real influence in return.

I felt that this perspective deeply aligns with Hanokers’ approach.

Our work starts from the belief that storytelling should be an act of agency, not extraction: Something people choose, shape or withhold if needed. By creating smaller, trust-based spaces, Hanokers prioritizes safety over spectacle and dignity over performance. The conversations at R-Space reaffirmed that meaningful change often happens away from the spotlight, through long-term relationships, shared ownership, and the willingness to move at the pace trust requires.

Another takeaway from R-Space was that refugee realities and solutions are inherently cross-border. While empowerment must navigate local legal frameworks, access to skills, networks, and digital participation increasingly transcends borders. In this landscape, local Refugee-Led Organizations (RLOs) are essential: Rooted in community trust, attuned to context, and capable of preparing refugees for meaningful participation beyond borders through digital inclusion and storytelling.

I feel that Hanokers stands at this intersection of local grounding and global possibility.

We invite partners, supporters, and collaborators to join us in strengthening refugee-led spaces, amplifying dignified narratives, and co-creating pathways for inclusion that are both locally responsible and globally connected.

12월 15~16일, 저는 제네바에 머물며 2025년 글로벌 난민 포럼(GRF)과 동시에 운영된 R-Space에서 총 27개의 난민 주도 패널 중 두 개의 패널에 참여할 수 있었습니다.

한옥커즈(Hanokers)는 아시아태평양난민네트워크(APNOR)의 지원을 받은 난민주도조직(RLO) 중 하나입니다. 그래서 나지바를 직접 만나고, 제린과 카야와 얼굴을 맞대고 이야기를 나눌 수 있었던 시간이 더욱 뜻깊었습니다.

이 만남들을 통해 R-Space는 단순히 토론이 이루어지는 공간이 아니라, 관계가 만들어지는 장소라는 점을 분명히 느꼈습니다. 이곳에서는 난민 리더십과 존엄이라는 가치가 제안서나 보고서가 아니라, 실제 사람들의 만남 속에서 드러납니다.

제가 참석한 세션에서는 인도적 지원과 공여자 시스템 안에서 자금이 어떻게 배분되는지가 이야기되었습니다. 그 구조는 ‘위험’, ‘역량’, ‘통제’라는 기존의 시각에 크게 영향을 받고 있었습니다. 난민주도조직들은 자신들이 배제된 상태에서 만들어진 기준에 맞춰 끊임없이 역량을 증명해야 하지만, 동시에 이들이 처한 구조적 한계는 거의 고려되지 않습니다.

“난민주도조직이 자금 지원을 받지 못하는 이유는 역량이 부족해서가 아니라, ‘효과성’을 정의하는 방식 자체에 도전하기 때문이다.”

이번 논의에서 가장 인상 깊었던 주제는 존엄, 안전, 그리고 이야기의 주도권이었습니다. 많은 발언은 인도주의 분야가 ‘보여지는 것’을 곧 권한 부여로, ‘참여하는 것’을 곧 영향력으로 착각해온 방식을 비판했습니다. 일부 난민들은 실질적인 변화는 없는 구조 안에서 반복적으로 자신의 이야기를 요구받는 일이 얼마나 큰 감정적 부담이 되는지 솔직하게 말했습니다.