Refugee Children Support in a Smaller Center: Parents' Perspective

• In Event: 61.087 - Poster Session 12
  In Poster Session: 61.087-1 - Poster Session: Social Context of Research in Schools and Communities

Abstract

The settlement experience refugees in smaller enters, particularly in St John’s, Newfoundland, has been under-researched (Burnaby, 2010; Karanja, 2007). The study aimed to explore the experiences of refugee parents in the process of their children’s transition to school and the experiences of refugee children in this process. The study revealed refugee parents’ lack of understanding of the school system, limited engagement with school community, isolation from other parents, barriers to understanding and connecting. We conclude that teachers need to view school involvement more multi-dimensionally and understand the parents’ perspective; and that the creation of a commonly comfortable mediated space (Li, 2012) may be hampered by both cultural miscommunication and inadequate support provided to newcomers and teachers. (116 words)

Authors

• Xuemei Li, Memorial University

• Antoinette Rachael Doyle, Memorial University

• Maureen Lymburner

• Needal Yasin Ghadi, Memorial University