Language, asylum and identity in the Belgian reception network: the on/off-line discourses of 'being/ being-made' and 'being from here/ not being from here'

This project examines the discursive dynamics of constructing multiple identities among applicants for international protection residing in reception centers in Belgium. It explores how individuals express and negotiate their diverse identities throughout their asylum processes. The research will span both offline and online spaces to reflect the hybrid social environments that shape contemporary experiences. Using an ethnographic methodology, the study aims to reveal underlying meanings through sustained observation and participation in everyday interactions. The project emphasizes co-creation of knowledge with reception center residents and staff by integrating participatory action research, which involves collaboratively shaping research questions and fieldwork design. Artistic workshops and a culminating art exhibition will serve as platforms for engagement, fostering dialogue and creative expression as integral parts of the research process.