Abstract
Refugees are a particularly vulnerable population who undergo nutrition transition as a result of forced migration. This paper explores how involvement in a community food garden supports African humanitarian migrant connectedness with their new country. A cross-sectional study of a purposive sample of African refugees participating in a campus-based community food garden was conducted. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with twelve African humanitarian migrants who tended established garden plots within the garden. Interview data were thematically analysed revealing three factors which participants identified as important benefits in relation to community garden participation: land tenure, reconnecting with agri-culture, and community belonging. Community food gardens offer a tangible means for African refugees, and other vulnerable or marginalised populations, to build community and community connections. This is significant given the increasing recognition of the importance of social connectedness for wellbeing.
Highlights
Populations that migrate from one country to another, in particular from a less industrialised to a highly industrialised country, undergo a consequent nutrition transition associated with changes in their physical and social environments, diet, physical activity, and access to healthcare [1,2].Evidence suggests that on arrival migrants from developing countries typically have better overall health than the non-migrant population, often referred to as the ―healthy migrant‖ paradox.It is paradoxical as, over time, migrant health status is prone to decline [3,4] as this population faces settlement difficulties associated with access to appropriate healthcare, language difficulties, financial difficulties as a result of unemployment, and cultural differences [5]
African refugees comprise more than 30% of the Humanitarian Program annual intake in Australia [9]
In the context of the demonstrated effectiveness of community food gardening to promote community connectedness, this study explored how involvement in a community food garden supports African humanitarian migrant connectedness with their new country
Summary
Evidence suggests that on arrival migrants from developing countries typically have better overall health than the non-migrant population, often referred to as the ―healthy migrant‖ paradox. It is paradoxical as, over time, migrant health status is prone to decline [3,4] as this population faces settlement difficulties associated with access to appropriate healthcare, language difficulties, financial difficulties as a result of unemployment, and cultural differences [5]. African humanitarian refugees represent a relatively recent and growing sub-population in Australia with most migrating and settling in the past 15 years [10] as a result of conflicts arising from decolonisation and government instability [11]. Available online: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/52F24D6A97BC0A67CA2578B0001197B8?open document (accessed on 30 July 2014)
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