Conference Programme (PDF, 1019KB) - Trinity College Dublin

abstracts by stream and session
SESSION 6e Young Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Refugee and Asylum Seeking Children: Emerging Paradigms in Research and Practice
Charles Watters, Rutgers University, USA
In recent years the treatment of children seeking asylum in industrialised countries has been a matter of increasing international
concern. Human rights organisations have documented numerous instances of summary expulsion or abandonment of those trying to
cross borders in the hope of a more secure existence. Drawing on material from his recent book Refugee Children: Towards the Next
Horizon, and a number of his recent studies of the treatment of asylum seeking and refugee children in Europe, Watters argues that
decisions regarding the expulsion or incorporation of children are frequently governed by a moral economy in which children viewed as
suffering from health problems, specifically mental health problems, are deemed to be legitimate and deserving of social and political
support. Those who do not achieve a form of `bio-legitimacy’ are often viewed as undeserving and are excluded or expelled. In amplifying
his theme, Watters will draw on current fieldwork in the Mediterranean region where children often arrive in Southern Europe having
travelled over land and sea from highly unstable war torn regions, and from Northern European ports where further journeys may be
attempted to the UK. In examining the treatment of asylum seeking and refugee children he will draw on his recent study of reception
conditions for asylum seekers in sixteen European countries. In developing theoretical perspectives that draw on the work of Arendt and
Agamben among others, Watters argues for an approach to research in the field that critically examines the historical, political and social
contexts in which children are excluded from territories or incorporated in the context of emerging epistemologies of care. He will also
argue that a research framework that engages with a wide social and political context is an essential component in developing receptive
and responsive policies towards asylum seeking and refugee children.
The Pre-departure Lives of Unaccompanied Minors: the “Ordinary” Amidst the “Extraordinary”
Muireann Ní Raghallaigh, University College Dublin, Ireland
Our knowledge of the pre-departure lives of unaccompanied minors – and indeed other asylum seekers and refugees – is often limited
to accounts of difficulties and problems. As a result, the impression is given that somewhat ‘extraordinary’ experiences – of war,
poverty, and lack of opportunity – fully represent these young people’s lives. Life at home is seen as negative, dangerous, and lacking in
opportunities, whilst life in the host country is seen in a more positive light, representing safety and possibility. However, such accounts do
not give the full story. ‘Thicker stories’ are often present (Kohli, 2006). By deliberately not focusing on problems at home and on reasons
for departure, the research on which this paper is based allowed the participants to talk about what might be termed their more ‘ordinary’
circumstances of childhood and adolescence, many of which were positive in nature. Although frequently neglected in the literature, these
circumstances are important to understand if we are to seek to fully appreciate where these young people have come from and to what
extent their lives have changed as a result of leaving home.
Supporting social inclusion for refugee youth
*Karen Block, University of Melbourne, Australia
Elisha Riggs, University of Melbourne, Australia
Lisa Gibbs, University of Melbourne, Australia
Deborah Warr, University of Melbourne, Australia
Australia accepts approximately 13,500 refugee and humanitarian migrants yearly, over half of whom are under the age of 25.
Currently, the majority of humanitarian entrants arriving in Australia are from countries in Africa, the Middle East and Burma which
have experienced long periods of conflict and consequent displacement of populations. This background results in particular barriers
to inclusion for young refugees who have often spent long periods of time, and sometimes their whole lives in refugee camps, as well
as having experienced a significant degree of trauma. Many adolescent and young adult refugees arrive with significantly disrupted
family and social networks as well as little formal education, compounded by limited vocational skills, work histories or experiences
relevant to employment in Australia. Standard on-arrival programs provide twelve months of English language tuition before placement
in mainstream education systems, where a mismatch of age, educational level and experience leaves individuals at high risk of
disengagement, dropping-out, and subsequent welfare dependency leading to long term social exclusion.
This paper will present findings from focus groups and interviews with young people from refugee backgrounds who are participating
in an innovative intervention designed to improve settlement outcomes for this group. The Ucan2 program is situated within standard
on-arrival English language programs. It brings host-community volunteers into the language classroom and promotes part-time work
as a means to inclusion and engagement. The intervention provides participants with psychosocial support and relevant experiences in
terms of employment focused language acquisition and employment skills while promoting social networking beyond existing community
boundaries. The research focus is on experiences of resettlement and social connections generated through program participation as
well as education and employment expectations, aspirations and outcomes. The presentation aims to enhance our understanding of the
issues impacting on social inclusion for newly-arrived young adult and adolescent refugees in Australia and other developed countries
and how this can inform policy and program development relating to service provision for this population.
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