We prioritize opportunities for participatory work, including the ability of developing unique and relevant initiatives by affected communities. Participatory research approaches that prioritize lived experiences as the foundation for generating knowledge inherently disrupt and undermine the power hierarchies that typically shape knowledge production. These approaches encourage researchers to critically examine their own social positioning and the extent to which their perceived expertise dominates the knowledge generation process.

Reciprocity helps ensure the research process and outcomes are more ethical and socially just. We prioritize research projects, resources, and initiatives that deliver tangible benefits to the participating individuals or community, such as improved access to resources, capacity building opportunities, or amplification of their voices and perspectives.

Self-reflexivity: It's crucial to acknowledge that our social justice-oriented approaches and research can be misused or lead to unintended consequences, despite our good intentions (Leurs & Smets, 2018). As committed researchers, we must continuously examine our practices, biases, and the broader impact of our work. This self-awareness helps us anticipate potential misuse and take proactive steps to mitigate it, ensuring that our efforts remain aligned with social justice goals and do not cause unintended harm.

We recognize that categorizations of 'refugee' and 'migrant' are imbued with power dynamics, political agendas, and systems of inclusion and exclusion. Our ethical stance entails that we resist simplistic labeling and instead uplift the humanity, stories, and self-determined identities of those navigating migration.