MSc International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies student Raksana Booncharoen shares their reflections on the ID Department Cumberland Lodge trip (31 January – 2 February) which included a simulation exercise on the refugee crisis.
Before embarking on my journey as an MSc student in Humanitarian Emergencies and International Development at LSE, I eagerly scrolled through every story on the ID department’s Instagram page. One particular video caught my attention. It showed a group of students going on a field trip to a place called Cumberland Lodge. This sparked a lot of questions in my mind – what is Cumberland Lodge? What were people doing there? What is the purpose of this activity? I, therefore, promised myself that I would go and find out.
Finally, the day had come. I went to lectures with a backpack and waited for the departure. Upon arrival, we were warmly greeted by crisp and refreshing air and a delectable dinner. I particularly enjoyed the chocolate lava cake.
This Cumberland Lodge trip centered around the theme of “Humanitarian Challenges”, bringing us together for a simulation exercise (SimEx) on the refugee crisis. We assumed the roles of key stakeholders in a fictional African country – Saxonia – while the Windsor Great Park where we were staying became the destination of the refugee influx.
The evening session was kicked off by Sir Mark Lowcock, who shared his experience in managing the Rohingya crisis during his tenure as the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs. He posed thought-provoking questions such as: Who is the first person you should engage with in addressing this crisis? What would be your first action if appointed to this position? These questions made us think about one important aspect of effectively managing humanitarian crises: coordination among different organisations with diverging interests and priorities. His insights were not only invaluable for our upcoming simulation exercises but also provided guidance and inspiration to those of us who wish to pursue our careers in the humanitarian field. Following his talk, Professor Stuart Gordon briefed us about the first simulation that was happening the next day, and we called it a day.
The morning arrived. I was determined to challenge my night owl tendency by attending a Yoga session. No surprise, I failed. We proceeded to the first SimEx session set up as a stakeholder negotiation to manage the influx of forcibly displaced persons. Each of us was assigned a specific role, ranging from refugee groups to representatives from international organisations, government officials, and local NGOs. We began with the intra-group discussions where I was part of the UN & development partner groups along with major international actors like UNHCR, UNDP, the European Union, and the US government.
This was followed by a multi-stakeholder meeting to find durable solutions. People took their roles seriously, voicing their concerns. Refugee groups focused on their well-being and livelihood, while major donors like USAID expressed fears about inadvertently funding terrorist activities. As a representative of the African Union, I emphasised the burden-sharing approach and called for international support to provide ‘Saxonia’ with the necessary financial, technical, and logistical assistance. Not only did the meeting provide us with hands-on experiences in crisis response, but it also enabled us to navigate the political, ethical, and logistical dilemmas faced by different humanitarian stakeholders and how to accommodate all needs.
A debrief revealed key issues that we should take into account at the negotiation table, particularly the broader operational, political, and diplomatic realities. More importantly, it underscored the need for the winners and losers in this crisis, as power dynamics play a crucial role in shaping the humanitarian response.
In the afternoon, Professor Stuart led us on a walk through the Windsor Great Park. This gave us time to unwind after an intense, thought-provoking session. Despite the cold and cloudy weather, we enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere and the stunning view of the castle from afar. On our way back, we were fortunate enough to spot a group of deer. It was, however, not just a normal retreat session – we also needed to consider that in our simulation this area would serve as a shelter for refugees. Therefore, we had to envision what the camps would look like.
The next SimEx focused on establishing a refugee camp. We took the role of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) responsible for managing the campsite, alongside other recruited role-players who played various roles such as UN agencies, state authorities, NGOs, and community members. Thanks to Felicity Fallon, who introduced us to the SPHERE handbook. It helped equip each group with the knowledge to organise the camp in accordance with the humanitarian minimum standards. I was in charge of the livelihood strategies, which involved designing vocational training programs and integrating refugees into job markets. This simulation offers a real picture of the complexities surrounding the refugee crises and gives us a sense of what it would be like if we worked in the field. We wrapped up the night with a pub quiz organised by our incredible quizmaster, AnnaRosa. Unfortunately, our team] came in last place, but we had a great time.
Cumberland Lodge was sending us off on the final day with a rare gift – a sunny sky. We concluded with group presentations. It was fascinating to see how each group developed very distinct approaches. During our final reflection, we realised that the voices of refugees who are at the heart of this crisis had been absent from our discussions. Throughout the process, we had been deeply engaged in negotiations with UN agencies, major donors, and state authorities, yet we had failed to consider what the refugees truly wanted. This fact struck me, especially given how much we had learned about humanitarian principles and their critiques in our lectures. In theory, we understood these issues well, but in practice – especially in a complex and chaotic decision-making environment –it was easy to overlook the most fundamental aspect.
That was exactly why we had this simulation. Learning is not just about doing the readings but also about experiencing and understanding real-world challenges and how to apply them. In the end, this journey satisfied the curiosity I had at the very beginning: What is the purpose of the Cumberland Lodge trip? What opportunities does this experience offer?
The views expressed in this post are those of the author and in no way reflect those of the International Development LSE blog or the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Featured image credit: Raksana Booncharoen and Professor Stuart Gordon
