"I Belong to My Home Country but I'm Not Going Back Just Yet": Refugee Children and Youth's Construction of Identities and Belonging

• In Event: Inclusive Education

Abstract

Over 10 million children and youth live in contexts of forced and often prolonged displacement outside their home country. Despite the prolonged nature of displacement, many host countries intend for refugees to return to their home country. It is therefore important to understand the factors that influence young people’s sense of belonging to their home country and their intention to return. Through a mixed-methods study among students in the last year of primary school in Kakuma refugee camp, we investigate the role of knowledge, language, experience, and schooling in students’ sense of belonging to their home country. Through our analysis we identify the importance of knowledge of one’s country and its traditions, fluency in one’s mother tongue, and schooling opportunities.

Authors

• Jihae Cha, Arizona State University - Tempe

• Daniel Shephard

• Minkyung Choi, Bronx Community College

• Ahrum Jeon, Boston College