Algoma University students, Domanique Camara and Meilannie Frost, recently returned from a transformative research trip to Jordan, that took place from April 28 to May 9. The students worked as research assistants under the guidance of Dr. Monika Thakur from Algoma University's Department of Law and Politics.
The research trip was part of Dr. Thakur's larger research project, Precarity, Violence and Resistance in the Global South and the Global North, funded by Algoma University's Academic Strategic Initiative Fund. Using research methodologies grounded in decolonial, feminist, and Indigenous methodologies, the project uses storytelling as a tool to create space for individuals and communities to share lived experiences of marginalized livelihoods and survival strategies - fostering empathy and dignity rooted in our shared humanity.
As part of their training, students gained hands-on experience in qualitative research methods, learned to navigate ethical fieldwork challenges, and reflected on their own positionality within the research process. The research team collected primary data through in-depth interviews and focus groups with 32 participants in Amman and Jerash, supported by local community organizations.
In addition to fieldwork, the students participated in high-level meetings with representatives from the Canadian Embassy, United Nations agencies, local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and universities. These engagements provided valuable insights into the intersection of policy and academic research. The students also visited Jordan's rich historical, cultural and natural sites including Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea.
"This experiential learning and research opportunity in Jordan exemplifies Algoma University's commitment to cross-cultural learning, experiential education, and the fostering of global citizenship," said Dr. Thakur. "Domanique and Meilannie did not simply read about research - they actively engaged in it. They learned how to conduct meaningful interviews, navigate cross-cultural environments, strengthen communication and critical thinking skills, and reflect critically on local and global contexts."
The initiative aligns with Algoma University's Special Mission, which emphasizes cross-cultural learning through community-based and globally-minded research. The project is designed to equip diverse students with critical research skills, and will result in academic publications on precarity, violence, and resistance, as well as a digital storytelling platform. The platform will feature stories highlighting themes of resilience and survival from Jordan, Nepal, Tanzania, Canada.
To view photos from this research trip, please click here.
To read more about the team's experience, please click here.
