1. To fill the knowledge gaps regarding transnational and return migration, challenges, and opportunities of social networks in relation to employment and social inclusion and the role and significance of religion for Thai migrant women.
2. To contribute to a deeper understanding of the nexus of, as well as the challenges and opportunities related to, the temporal, spatial, religious, and relational dimensions of migrants’ lives, and how these influence migrants’ life strategies and transnational lives.
3. To use the knowledge generated to counteract stereotypes and stigmatization about Thai migrant women by providing a holistic perspective on their life as migrants and a minority group.
4. To build a network of researchers from different parts of the world to i) ensure the international scientific relevance of the project and to ii) facilitate a relevant international network for the younger researchers to be involved in the project.

The project is led by Kari Storstein Haug, Professor at the Centre of Mission and Global Studies (CMG), VID Specialized University, and assistant project
leader Sanjana Arora, Researcher II at the Centre for Intercultural Communication (SIK) at VID.

Team members:

• Meltem Yilmaz Sener, Senior researcher SIK (VID)
• Bjørn Hallstein Holte, Associate Professor Faculty of Social Studies (VID)
• Ingrid Løland, Associate Professor Faculty of Theology and Social Sciences (VID)
• Georgios Trantas, Associate Professor, Faculty of Theology and Social Sciences, (VID)
• Norma Wong, Senior researcher, SIK (VID)
• Anne Brit Hatleskog, PhD Research Fellow, Centre for Diaconia and Professional Practice (VID)
• Szonja Zoltanfi, PhD Research Fellow, Centre for Diaconia and Professional Practice (VID)
• Chantanee Charoensri, Dean, Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology, Thammasat University (Bankok)
• Panitee Brown, Associate Professor, Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology, Thammasat University (Bankok)
• Wilanee Phananakhonsab, Associate Professor, Faculty of Sociology and Anthropology, Thammasat University (Bankok)

• Manisha Desai, Professor and Executive Director, The Center for Changing Systems of Power, Stony Brook University, USA
• Sine Plambech, Senior Researcher, Unit of Migration and Global Order, Danish Institute for International Studies, Denmark
• Suwanna Satha-Anand, Professor, Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
• Paul Statham, Professor and Director, Centre of Excellence, Sussex Centre for Migration Research, University of Sussex, UK
• Melanie Lindsay Straiton, Senior Researcher, Department of Mental Health and Suicide, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Norway
• Martin Seeger, Professor of Thai Studies, University of Leeds, UK

• Bita Nakhaie. Master programme: Master in Community Development and Social Innovation​. Supervisors: Sanjana Arora and Panitee Brown
• Elton March. Master programme: Master in Community Development and Social Innovation​. Supervisor: Norma Wong​
• Marit Helen Skogøy. Master programme: Citizenship and Co-operation​. Supervisor: Bjørn Hallstein Holte​

• Leader: Sanjana Arora Participants: Anne Brit Hatleskog, Szonja Zoltanfi, Bjørn Hallstein Holte, Kari Storstein Haug, Norma Wong.

WP1 describes and analyses the role that (transnational) social networks and labor market participation play in Thai migrant women’s life strategies and social inclusion in Norway.

• Methodology: This WP uses an ethnographic approach, including participant observation and semi-structured interviews. The fieldwork will go over a six-month period characterized by an in-depth and long immersion into ten to twelve Thai migrant women’s daily lives in Norway.

• Leader: Kari Storstein Haug. Participants: Georgios Trantas, PhD Research Fellow (?).

WP2 seeks to identify, describe, and explain the role of religion (Buddhism) in the lives of Thai migrant women in Norway.

• Methodology: (a) Semi-structured interviews with Thai women who frequent Buddhist temples and other places of worship (b) In the same setting as well as in Stavanger and Bergen/Oslo, focus group interviews will be conducted with the monks. (c) Visual content analysis, dealing with the religious aesthetics, artefacts and generally symbolisms in the places of worship and work;

• Leader: Chantanee Charoensri. Participants: Panitee Brown, Wilanee Phananakhonsab, Meltem Yilmaz Sener.

WP3 describes and analyzes different dynamics related to return migration of Thai-Norwegian couples returning to Thailand. More precisely, it explores the role that return migration plays in the life strategies of Thai migrant women and the impacts of the Norwegian welfare system and the Thai immigration policy in facilitating and/or hindering (permanent) return migration among Thai-Norwegian couples.

• Methodology: A desk study of relevant policy documents will be conducted. We will furthermore conduct 15-20 life-story interviews with 15-20 Thai-Norwegian couples who have returned from Norway to Thailand.