Not idle: The gymnastics of refugee activism in—and out of—the aid apparatus

‘Are refugees idle?’ This was a common question I received from UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) representatives when I was conducting research at their global headquarters in Geneva. Refugees are not idle, even in camps with a heavy aid presence like Nyarugusu camp in Tanzania. Refugees engage in various kinds of labour, including activism. Based on more than two years of ethnographic research in Nyarugusu camp, in aid and government offices across Tanzania, and at regional and global hubs of the UNHCR in Kenya and Switzerland, this article outlines three forms of activism refugees engage in despite the many obstacles the aid apparatus presents for such activism. I argue that refugees must perform metaphorical gymnastics in order to advocate for themselves, for their communities, and for their country of origin. The refugee view of the aid apparatus provides valuable critiques for changes that could be made to improve humanitarian services.