Getting Started...

It was a normal Tuesday morning. During the break in my International Human Rights Law seminar, I was enjoying a cappuccino from Junction and scrolling through my inbox when one email stopped me in my tracks:

“Student Action for Refugees (STAR) is a UK-wide network supporting refugees and asylum seekers. We are hoping to start a STAR group at QUB.”

I knew that I had to be involved, and I replied immediately. Not long after, we all met in the School of Law’s Stephen Livingstone Room, where Dr Lauren Dempster and Dr Amanda Kramer, alongside Dr Teresa Degenhardt, made the case for a STAR group here - I’m incredibly grateful that they did! Our passion was clear from the start, as we shared ideas and made plans for the future.  

We also divided up the tasks and responsibilities for getting started, and mine was to get in touch with the Student Action for Refugees network, registering our interest in joining. Teigan Couper was amazing, guiding me through every step and answering all of my many questions. With the kind support and encouragement of Solvieg Graham at Queen’s Students' Union, we resurrected an older outfit of QUB STAR that inspired us through their work campaigning, volunteering, and championing action on campus. 

Our next step was to elect our committee for the year ahead. I was honoured to have been elected as Captain, and extremely grateful to have been joined for the year by Molly Gallagher as Secretary, Conor McGuirk as Treasurer, Bláithín Drain as Fundraising Officer, Hannah Kunnath and Emily Collins as Events Officers, Amy Carney as Wellbeing Officer, Oran Coyle as Social Media Officer, and Morgan Mattingly as our General Committee Member. Their energy, compassion, and commitment was vital to realising our mission - making our campus and our society more just and understanding, where friends from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds are welcomed and can thrive.

In a world where division and hostility are becoming all too normalised, it’s easy to feel helpless. However, our outlet for activism has allowed us to show up, speak out, and make a difference through simple acts in our communities.

Our Projects, Panels, and Events

Our very first event was Afternoon Tea with QUB STAR. We launched our society in the SU Drawing Room, filled with Queen’s students and staff, as well as Ann Marie White from the Red Cross and Belfast City Councillor Caoimhín McCann, who has supported us from the very beginning. As I stood up and began to address our audience, I felt so much hope for the year ahead, and I’m proud to say that hope was well-placed. Here’s a snapshot of the incredible things that we’ve achieved together since that day...

• We partnered with Queen’s Civic Engagement Team by attending their Sanctuary Coffee Mornings. Inside 48 University Road, I met so many new friends from all across the world. With informative, inclusive, and insightful discussions, education, storytelling, and of course delicious coffee and pastries, these gatherings became the highlight of my busy weeks full of seminars and assignments.
• We fundraised for Big Give Week, focusing on the theme of Equal Access to Education, making sure refugees get access to appropriate information and support when applying to university here. Throughout the festive season, our members helped us to rebuild lives and create hope for the future.

• We kicked 2025 off with a General Meeting in the SU, linking up with our friends in the Education Society to share ideas for moving forward as new societies in the university.
• The fabulous Niamh Rowan from the Law Centre delivered her Introduction to Asylum training session, which helped us understand the complex issues faced by asylum seekers, the chronic problems facing the current system, and ways for students and young people to get involved in supporting our friends from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds on their journey.
• We hosted our very first Pub Quiz in the Botanic Inn; a night of craic, solidarity, and fundraising!

• We partnered with Anaka Women’s Collective, taking part in their tutoring scheme for GCSE English, Maths, and Science. I had the pleasure of working with amazing young people, assisting them with preparation and revision through Zoom every week, allowing for flexibility as a busy, working student. Anaka and their 16+ Education Equality Campaign very kindly invited us to an Iftar Celebration at Redeemer Central. I’m so grateful to have fostered our connection, and enjoyed a beautiful meal!
• The wonderful Denise Wright from Belfast Policing and Community Safety Partnership delivered a Community Dialogues Session, providing us with a toolkit on speaking up when witnessing hate.
• We attended a United Against Racism Rally in Belfast, proudly displaying our STAR banner and standing shoulder to shoulder with our friends, showcasing the power of unity and compassion.
• Hannah Kunnath represented our society at Elevate NI and the Law School’s Spring Celebration, and joined me for the CiviContribution Celebration Event.
• My favourite moment has to be our Sanctuary Award, and the celebrations that followed. I loved reflecting on the progress and partnerships that brought us to this moment, but also planning our next moves on campus and beyond...

Thank You

Without the following supporters and friends, none of the above achievements would have been possible. I remain forever indebted to the amazing Federica Ferrieri, and her colleagues in the Civic Engagement Team; Maurice Macartney, Claire Harris, Aileen Cummins, and Raymond Miller, who provided me with a platform to speak about my degrees and work with STAR on his panel discussion for Queen’s Day, with R-City Youth. Integrating me with their networks and connections, they elevated my work and QUB STAR’s status.

Through them, I have had the pleasure of working with Saher Idris at Anaka Women’s Collective, Niamh Rowan at the Law Centre, Bríd Maher at the Education Authority, Mehrshad Esfandiari at City of Sanctuary & Street NI, Heba Barghash at the Belfast Islamic Centre, Denise Wright at the PCSP, and many more who work so hard to make our society a better and more welcoming place.

Our very own Morgan also delivered a session on ESOL, kindly sharing her advice, expertise, and tips on what has become a main area of focus for our group.

Federica and I manned the Queen's stall at the Department for Communities Event for Newcomers in 2 Royal Avenue. As proud representatives of Queen’s, we discussed all things sanctuary, solidarity, students, and STAR! We also provided information on free workshops, events, study opportunities, and Sanctuary initiatives. I was delighted to take part, as any chance I get to speak about our work, I gladly take!

I wrote a piece titled Seven Months of Impact: Leading QUB STAR to Foster Sanctuary and Solidarity for the School of Law, and spoke on Raymond’s Panel Discussion for R-City about my degrees and leading a student society. I always champion the importance of always standing up for what you believe in, and the supportive environment at Queen’s that encouraged our work and our mission this year through education and kindness. 

My Favourite Moment

The highlight of my year, without a doubt, was assisting Queen’s in being awarded as a University of Sanctuary. Joining on the appraisal call, I once again took the chance to speak about STAR, gladly! Reflecting on how we have involved students and created community through events like our Pub Quiz in the Botanic Inn, as well as projects like the tutoring programme, myself and Events Officer Hannah discussed our work and connection with the Civic Engagement Team, as well as to Saj Khan and Suyi Yang at Queen’s Students' Union. When the letter came through confirming our status as a University of Sanctuary, I was delighted, and really felt as though I had made a difference.

We held the QUB University of Sanctuary Celebrations, which helped me to reflect on the progress and partnerships that have brought us to this stage, and the work that is still needed to fully accomplish our mission of making our campus a more just, understanding, and welcoming place. As I went onto the stage and began to speak on the day’s panel, I reflected on that normal Tuesday morning, and the email that started me on this wonderful journey...

I finish up my year as Captain confident that the next year of STAR will continue our work, and forever grateful to the people and organisations mentioned above that made my time so special. 

Follow @QUBSTAR on Instagram for more information on our projects, as well as signing up for a society you won’t forget!

Find out more

Keep up to date with QUB STAR

Our Path to Sanctuary

Órnait Maguire International Human Rights Law | Postgraduate Student | Crumlin, Co. Antrim Is mise Órnait, and I’m studying for my Master’s in International Human Rights Law here at Queen’s! I have loved my time here as both an undergraduate and postgraduate student, and I am really grateful to be able to share the moments, memories, and experiences that have shaped it and made it so special. Studying International Human Rights Law has opened up so many possibilities and opportunities for me, and helped me to learn more about myself and my passions. As Captain of Queen’s Student Action for Refugees, my last few months have been filled with so much fun, growth, and friendship, as we helped to make our campus a more welcoming and understanding place and celebrated the incredible achievement of becoming a University of Sanctuary.