Integration of Ukrainian Refugee Students in Polish Schools: Relational Labor of Bridging, Bonding, and Brokering

• In Event: Children and Youth Section Open Call Paper Session

Abstract

Despite substantial research on social integration of refugee students into host schools, the understanding of work that contemporary school-age children do to integrate is limited. Drawing on the interviews with Polish teachers and Ukrainian mothers, we examined relational labor of children in Polish schools involved in integration of Ukrainian refugee students. Findings showed that three distinct groups of children were a part of the integration process and engaged in relational labor through bridging, bonding, or brokering work. Overall, this study expands the theory of social integration and illuminates the relational labor of school-age children in the integration of refugee students.

Authors

• Iwona Franczak, Syracuse University

• Amy Lutz, Syracuse University