Migrant Children Research Articles

A child-centred intercultural approach to the socio-educational inclusion of migrant and refugee children.

The increasing trend of child migration, whether forced or voluntary, poses a challenge to policies aimed at ensuring social cohesion and protecting children's rights. Inclusive educational environments play a crucial role in the integration of migrant and refugee children by promoting intercultural dialogue and participation. This study aims to explore the potential of a child-centred approach to the socio-educational inclusion of migrant and refugee children in Europe, proposing a framework of inclusive interculturalism to address the specific challenges these children face in educational settings. A narrative review was conducted, examining a wide range of peer-reviewed sources to synthesise current knowledge on child-centred education and its applicability to migrant and refugee children. The review identifies key challenges in adopting a child-centred approach, including socio-cultural, linguistic and psychological barriers that hinder migrant and refugee children's full participation in education. It highlights the importance of promoting agency, cultural competence and emotional well-being through inclusive and intercultural educational practices. Implementing a child-centred, inclusive intercultural approach can promote social cohesion and reduce inequalities by ensuring that all children, regardless of their background, have access to quality education and opportunities for personal development. However, more empirical research is needed to translate these theoretical frameworks into practical interventions.

Protecting and Educating Children on the Move in UNICEF and UNHCR Documents

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to show, based on UNICEF and UNHCR documents, the problems of migrant children that hinder/impede their inclusion in the education of the host community and to identify ways to deal with these problems.
 THE RESEARCH PROBLEM AND METHODS: Using document analysis, I will answer the following questions: What threats are children on the move exposed to? What are the priority areas for action? How can they be protected and integrated into the new education system?
 THE PROCESS OF ARGUMENTATION: The paper presents the causes and risks associated with migration for children, important concepts for educational practice, recommendations and proposed solutions
 RESEARCH RESULTS: The documents show the risks faced by children on the move. Such children are often marginalized and stigmatized in host communities. Ensuring their well-being (meeting their psychological needs and respecting their rights) is a priority and a necessary condition for them to be able to start education. The discussion shows the importance of education in dealing with difficult conditions or in counteracting negative phenomena (discrimination, xenophobia). Education is treated as capital that is supposed to give these children a chance for a better future.
 CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND APPLICABLE VALUE OF RESEARCH: The following conclusions can be drawn for practice from UNICEF and UNHCR documents: children on the move should have the same rights and opportunities for education as their peers in host com- munities; they need friendly and safe places to live, play and learn; children have resources and experiences that should be considered when organizing educational environments.

Relasi Sosial NGO PERMAI Dalam Pemenuhan Pendidikan Terhadap Anak Migran Yang Tidak Berdokumen Di Pulau Pinang Malaysia

Undocumented migrant children lose access to formal education. Therefore, a learning forum is provided, namely the guidance studio (SB) or Learning Center. This research uses a qualitative method using a case study approach. The aim of this research is to determine the form of social relations of NGO PERMAI in building a guidance studio for undocumented migrant children, to find out the form of support/contribution from related parties in helping fulfill education for migrant children. The theory used is Michel Foucault's theory of power relations. The results of this research are: The PERMAI NGO guidance studio requires support and assistance from other parties, this form of relationship is a collaborative relationship from (KBRI, ​​KJRIl, PPI and students from universities in Indonesia). The forms of support provided vary, such as material support or learning needs (desks, chairs, notebooks, boards, etc.) or support in the form of personnel as provided by PPI.

‘Permanent Temporariness’ as a Critical Lens: A Framework for Social Work with Forced Migrants

Abstract The realities of increasing numbers of forced migrants in Global North countries, including families and children, are shaped by a regime of permanent temporariness—the granting of temporary status for prolonged periods. This uncertainty-producing state means that people are temporarily banned from deportation, but their futures remain unclear and they have almost no access to rights, including social services. Whilst the role of temporality in understanding migrants’ everyday realities is gaining attention in migration scholarship, such a perspective has seldom been integrated into social work literature. As such, this article offers to adopt permanent temporariness as a critical lens for social work with forced migrants in ongoing precarious situations. It offers a conceptualisation of the meanings and implications of permanent temporariness for the lives of forced migrant families and children, manifesting on the individual, familial and extra-familial levels. Thus, the present article highlights the critical role that legal liminality plays in organising people’s lives and intensifying other coinciding post-migration challenges. Finally, implications for a temporal-aware approach in social work with displaced families and individuals are discussed, calling into question the linearity of social work frameworks and the necessity and feasibility of a future-oriented intervention in situations of prolonged uncertainty.

EUPHEMISM AS POLITENESS STRATEGY: INVESTIGATING LANGUAGE USE AMONG CHILDREN OF INDONESIAN MIGRANT WORKERS IN MALAYSIA

This study explores euphemism in the language use of Indonesian migrant workers' children in Malaysia. Focusing on intercultural communication within Indonesian schools, it employs a qualitative case study approach with observational data collection. Results reveal diverse euphemistic forms (1) one-word substitutions, (2) circumlocution, (3) borrowing, (4) abbreviation, (5) hyperbole, and (6) figurative expression in Bugisness, Indonesian, English, and Malaysian. These euphemisms serve as linguistic politeness strategies for indirect speech acts in communication.

AGING, MIGRATION, AND GRANDPARENTING IN POST–ONE CHILD POLICY CHINA

Abstract China’s rapid rural-urban migration and population ageing are posing significant challenges to traditional patterns of intergenerational familial support. To tackle population ageing, China’s one-child policy has been replaced by a two-child policy, subsequently a three-child policy. With limited institutional childcare facilities in place, ageing grandparents from rural areas often move to the cities where their adult migrant children settle to provide care for grandchildren. This group of older, rural people are largely marginalised and are invisible on the current research and policy agenda. This ongoing study, conducted in the Yangtze River delta urban area — one of the most developed, crowded, and the largest migrant-receiving urban regions in China — aims to uncover their experiences during the process of migration and adaptation, and establish the way in which this arrangement of grandparenting has impacted their everyday lives and well-being. Three compelling themes emerged at this stage: 1) intensified caring responsibilities imposed on older women largely owing to patriarchy; 2) intersection of old age, being women and exclusion of social welfare due to having a rural origin contribute to poor well-being; 3) the feeling of a lack of balance in terms of family exchange over the life course is not uncommon. It is possible that urbanisation will reinforce vulnerability and marginalisation of and exacerbate social exclusion of older women from rural origin. This project will form an important evidence base to tackle issues such as social exclusion of disadvantaged communities in China against the backdrop of rapid population ageing and urbanisation.

Reflections and Proposals on Portuguese as a Welcoming Language ‘for’ and ‘with’ international migrant children in Brazil

No Brasil, o influxo de migrantes aumentou nos últimos anos, tornando nossa sociedade ainda mais diversa e multicultural. Como resultado, há uma crescente necessidade de ensino de língua para crianças migrantes internacionais que podem não ter conhecimento prévio de português. Nesse contexto, o português pode ser visto como uma Língua de Acolhimento (PLAc), que pode possibilitar às crianças migrantes o acesso à educação, cidadania e a outras oportunidades. No entanto, ensinar e aprender PLAc também apresenta desafios, que incluem a falta de recursos e educadores capacitados, bem como a necessidade de levar em conta os diversos antecedentes linguísticos e culturais dessas crianças. Considerando esse cenário, o objetivo deste trabalho é refletir sobre o ensino e aprendizagem do PLAc “para” e “com” crianças migrantes internacionais no Brasil. Pretendemos oferecer insights sobre os desafios e oportunidades associados a esse processo, bem como oferecer algumas reflexões e sugestões.

AI Tutor: Solution for Chinas Disadvantaged and Under-resourced Children

This academic paper delves into the pressing issue of educational disparities in China, particularly focusing on the challenges faced by disadvantaged and under-resourced children, including both migrant and left-behind children. The paper underscores the socioeconomic and geographical complexities that exacerbate these disparities, emphasizing the need for innovative solutions. It then introduces the transformative potential of AI tutors, leveraging recent advancements in large language models (LLMs), to bridge the educational gap. The study highlights the significant impact of migration on children's access to education, with rural-to-urban migration patterns creating hurdles for migrant children to secure enrollment in urban schools. Additionally, it sheds light on the plight of left-behind children, who face emotional challenges and limited educational resources in rural settings. The paper introduces AI tutors, particularly ChatGPT-based Khanmigo, as innovative solutions that can offer personalized educational support, generate educational materials, assist teachers, and even evaluate student work. It discusses the advantages of these AI tutors, such as cost-effectiveness and accessibility, and their potential to democratize education. However, the paper also acknowledges the limitations of AI tutors, particularly in areas requiring creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. It raises concerns about exacerbating educational inequality if high-quality human educators become exclusive to the privileged, leaving disadvantaged children reliant on AI-based solutions.

IDENTITY FORMATION OF THE CHILD MIGRANT IN MICHAEL ONDAATJE’S AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOVEL “THE CAT’S TABLE”

The current article examines the process of identity formation in the autobiographical novel “The Cat’s Table” by Michael Ondaatje, a Sri Lankan-born Canadian writer. The novel focuses on the childhood and youth stages, which are critical periods for transitioning into adulthood. The research aims to reconstruct the artistic depiction of the migrant character’s identity as they travel from East to West, taking into account the influence of location, environment, external factors, the experience of emigration and survival on the way to the formation of one’s own self. Research methods are subordinate to the aim of the study and tasks. The study employs literary analysis techniques such as close-reading, biographical and autobiographical analysis, narratology, postcolonial criticism, and identity studies. The objectives of the research include analyzing the novel’s poetics, thematic complexity, and genre specificity, examining the synthesis of autobiographical elements and motifs from postcolonial travel literature in relation to modern conceptualizations of identity, and exploring the processual nature of the identity formation of the author-narrator-migrant and the literary character-teen-migrant who exists in the “Third Space” according to H. Bhabha. The emigration of a child is seen as “rites of passage” proposed by Van Gennep, shared by the characters who have undergone international mobility in their early years. The article focuses on the transitional stage of identity acquisition by a child migrant, emphasizing that the writer draws from his own childhood experiences and attempts to convey his teenage identity crisis. The central character of the novel, an eleven-year-old boy, occurs on board a ship that travels from Sri Lanka, a colonized country, to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the largest colonial state in the world in the 20th century. The sea voyage and events on the Oronsay, the ocean liner depicted in the novel, are based on the author’s real memories and serve as a means to delve into the inner journey of the past and reconstruct childhood memories. The concept of “identity crisis”, as described by E. Erikson, is viewed not as a catastrophic event but as a pivotal moment of development that reflects the complexities of social identity and personal growth during the transitional age. The article concludes that the experience of migration during the formative years of personal identity, shared by the author and the characters, is crucial for the adaptation strategies of individuals undergoing resettlement and serves as a significant motif in postcolonial literature focused on the lives of migrants.

Comparison of Nutritional Status Between Migrant and Nonmigrant School-Age Children in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China

This study explores the nutritional status of migrant and nonmigrant school-age children in Kunming, Yunnan Province, China, along with the contributing factors. A cross-sectional survey (n = 1655) was conducted among students aged 9–11 years across four schools. The findings reveal that 73% of the students’ parents are migrants. Compared with nonmigrants, migrant students exhibited a significantly lower obesity rate (5.2% vs. 8.8%). The migrant parents demonstrated lower levels of nutritional knowledge and education compared to nonmigrants, albeit local parents invested more time in work. Risk factors affecting the nutritional status of migrant children included age, sex, and cooking time, while for local children, gender, family size, sweet food consumption, and nutritional knowledge were identified as risk factors.

Migration of German Children from East Prussia and of Russian-speaking Children to Post-War Lithuania


 
 
 The wave of famine-caused migration to Soviet Lithuania (1946–1948) has been a subject of historiographical analysis, focusing selectively on one of the migrant groups: either the East Prussian German children (widely recognised in the cultural memory as the wolf children) or those arriving from famine-affected republics of the Soviet Union. By employing the methodology of oral history, using the interviews collected alongside materials sourced from Lithuanian and German archives, research institutes, and memory institutions, this article aims to uncover the reasons behind the arrival of both groups of migrant children in Soviet Lithuania. It also investigates the attempts made by the bureaucratic apparatus to control and halt migration, as well as the efforts of the wolf children in seeking social justice in Germany after 1990. The study reveals that the Soviet system perceived migrants from East Prussia and other Soviet republics primarily as a potential threat due to the risk of a typhus outbreak in Lithuania.
 
 

The winding access to legal status for unaccompanied migrant minors in Spain

AbstractThis article analyses an inclusive and participatory approach to regularising ‘Non-Asylum Seeking Unaccompanied Migrant Minors’ in Spain. The terminology is multiple; in this paper, the choice has fallen on Unaccompanied Migrant Minors with the acronym UMMs instead of UAMs, to be consistent with the doctoral thesis already defended in 2021. The term UASC, specific to unaccompanied migrant minors seeking asylum, was excluded. To fully assess the process, it is necessary to account for the following factors shaping their administrative situation: (a) how they reach adulthood, (b) whether they are in regular or irregular situations, and (c) the waiting time for obtaining regularity status and citizenship. This article reviews the gap between perspectives of legal protection, good intentions, and political restrictions.The study has been carried out considering the results of qualitative research obtained through interviews with minors, staff members at reception centres, guardians, and immigration authorities. Particular attention is devoted to the limited number of resident permits granted to the UMMs. The methodology was enriched by desk research; most sources cited in the article are legal instruments and academic papers.The different dimensions of regularization are analysed by paying attention to (i) residence permits and political rights; (ii) the role of guardianship in administrative regularization; and (iii) vulnerability related to the legal status of unaccompanied migrant minors. A comprehensive assessment is carried out based on children's rights and the social, institutional, and organizational contexts, as well as considering the policies which condition the protection milieu concerning migrant children and the practices at both general and operative levels.

The Impact of Urban-rural Parental Migration on Children's Academic Performance in China

The academic performance of migrant children in China has been a subject of growing concern. With a significant number of parents migrating for work, these children often face unique challenges in their educational journey. While some studies have shown a positive impact of parental income on academic outcomes, it remains uncertain whether this effect outweighs the consequences of reduced parental time and neglect of educational investment. This research aims to investigate the various factors contributing to the divergent academic performances of migrant children in the context of parental migration. This article reviews the literature on parental migration and highlights the complex interplay of factors shaping the academic trajectories of migrant children. While parental income can positively influence academic performance, its efficacy is contingent on mitigating the effects of reduced parental time and educational neglect on children’s cognitive and non-cognitive development. Furthermore, the external environment significantly impacts the mental health of these children, necessitating enhanced support systems for their psychological needs. In conclusion, this study's findings emphasize the significance of creating focused interventions and assistance programs to meet the particular difficulties experienced by migrating children in China.

The well-being of unaccompanied migrant children: Between dreams and reality

The phenomenon of unaccompanied migrant children, though global, has important territorial and social context differences. The objectives of this study were: (i) to analyze the arrivals of unaccompanied children in Catalonia by age, sex and country of origin, (ii) to know crucial aspects related to the family and school background, (iii) to analyze their emotional well-being and life satisfaction, and (iv) to gain an insight into their perception of the barriers, opportunities and their rights during their stay in the child protection system (residential care). Regarding the first objective, a secondary analysis of the official database was carried out for the period 2015; for the second and third objectives, a questionnaire was administered to 811 unaccompanied migrant adolescents; and for the fourth, four focus groups were organized with young unaccompanied migrants living in residential centers. The main findings pointed to significant differences according to country of origin. Significant differences also existed in terms of emotional and life satisfaction, depending on country of origin, urban or rural background, sex, and above all, length of stay in the new setting. All the factors analyzed have implications for professional practice to support and protect unaccompanied migrant children and promote their autonomy, with an emphasis on the need to incorporate a gender perspective.

Elevated mortality among the second-generation (children of migrants) in Europe: what is going wrong? and interventions to tackle health inequalities in cardiovascular risks for socioeconomically disadvantaged populations

Elevated mortality among the second-generation (children of migrants) in Europe: what is going wrong? and interventions to tackle health inequalities in cardiovascular risks for socioeconomically disadvantaged populations

‘THE TRANSIENT FOREIGNER’: RESTRICTIONS ON CITIZENSHIP ACQUISITION IN CHILE AND COLOMBIA FOR THOSE SAID TO BE ‘PASSING THROUGH’

AbstractThis article explores the constitutional regulation of birthright ius soli citizenship in two Latin American countries which restrict access to citizenship for the children of foreigners deemed to be passing through the countries. Access to citizenship is a significant marker of membership, setting the boundaries of inclusion and exclusion within and across States. Choosing the cases of Chile and Colombia, this article uses historical, institutional and comparative analysis in order to excavate the evolving conceptions of citizenship in those two countries, with particular reference to the concepts of the ‘transient foreigner’ and of ‘domicile’. The case studies provide an excellent laboratory within which to examine the evolution of constitutional ideas of citizenship and ‘the people’. In Colombia, the outcome of the investigation shows that there is unlikely to be significant long-term change in the citizenship regime towards a more generalised acceptance of unconditional ius soli, notwithstanding the substantial shorter-term measures taken to accommodate the children of undocumented migrants from Venezuela and to respond to international pressure. In Chile, combined with other ongoing constitutional work in the citizenship space as part of a wider reform process, there may be a slow journey towards a different constitutional future for so-called ‘transient foreigners’ and others excluded within the State, but this is currently stalled. Chile has, however, introduced legislation cementing a more limited concept of ‘transient foreigner’, linking this work on citizenship to the wider domain of migration governance.

Parental harsh discipline in intergenerational transmission of anxiety in China: A longitudinal actor-partner interdependence analysis.

The present study investigated the intergenerational transmission of anxiety from both mothers and fathers to children in Chinese migrant families and the mediating roles of both parents' harsh discipline (psychological aggression and corporal punishment). Four hundred seventy nine intact families with at least one migrant child were followed prospectively, with data collected from multiple informants at three time points half a year apart. A longitudinal multiple mediation model in combination with an actor-partner interdependent model (APIM) was used to examine the mediating roles of both parents' harsh discipline in the intergenerational transmission of anxiety. Results indicated that anxiety was transmitted across generations from mothers (but not fathers) to migrant children. Significant actor effects of mothers' and fathers' anxiety on their own harsh discipline were found, while no significant partner effects were observed. Mothers' psychological aggression played an important role in the intergenerational transmission of anxiety from mothers to migrant children. The findings suggest that interventions and prevention efforts focusing on reduction of children's anxiety would benefit from decreasing mothers' anxiety and psychological aggression. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Gaming in multicultural classrooms with refugee and migrant children: Exploring the potential of culturally tailored serious games as spaces for second language acquisition

Due to the emergence of technology and people’s dependence on it, coupled with global human flows causing intense student mobility in schools, the need for a new educational paradigm arises. On the one hand, people are becoming increasingly reliant on the satisfaction modern screens provide, and all other stimuli seem uninteresting and dull. In these terms, traditional educational methods appear outdated and ineffective for the modern classroom. Today, education is a critical factor influencing and preparing people to become citizens of a world without borders. Moving in this direction, educational tools should be diversified and adjusted to a multicultural context so that all students can emotionally relate and identify themselves with the knowledge they are taught. The use of gaming in education is a popular new addition to modern classrooms. This article will present the results of a research project that investigated the potential use of serious games in multicultural environments as a space for the acquisition of English as a second language. More precisely, the study focused on the culturally-tailored content of serious games and their ideal design features, according to English teacher practitioners working with refugee and migrant populations in Trikala, Greece.

Empirical evidence of predictive adaptive response in humans: systematic review and meta-analysis of migrant populations.

Meta-analysis is used to test a variant of a Developmental Origins of Adult Health and Disease (DOHaD)'s conjecture known as predictive adaptive response (PAR). According to it, individuals who are exposed to mismatches between adverse or constrained in utero conditions, on the one hand, and postnatal obesogenic environments, on the other, are at higher risk of developing adult chronic conditions, including obesity, type 2 diabetes (T2D), hypertension and cardiovascular disease. We argue that migrant populations from low and middle to high-income countries offer a unique opportunity to test the conjecture. A database was constructed from an exhaustive literature search of peer-reviewed papers published prior to May 2021 contained in PUBMED and SCOPUS using keywords related to migrants, DOHaD, and associated health outcomes. Random effects meta-regression models were estimated to assess the magnitude of effects associated with migrant groups on the prevalence rate of T2D and hypertension in adults and overweight/obesity in adults and children. Overall, we used 38 distinct studies and 78 estimates of diabetes, 59 estimates of hypertension, 102 estimates of overweight/obesity in adults, and 23 estimates of overweight/obesity in children. Our results show that adult migrants experience higher prevalence of T2D than populations at destination (PR 1.48; 95% CI 1.35-1.65) and origin (PR 1.80; 95% CI 1.40-2.34). Similarly, there is a significant excess of obesity prevalence in children migrants (PR 1.22; 95% CI 1.04-1.43) but not among adult migrants (PR 0.89; 95% CI 0.80-1.01). Although the total effect of migrant status on prevalence of hypertension is centered on zero, some migrant groups show increased risks. Finally, the size of estimated effects varies significantly by migrant groups according to place of destination. Despite limitations inherent to all meta-analyses and admitting that some of our findings may be accounted for alternative explanations, the present study shows empirical evidence consistent with selected PAR-like conjectures.

Efficacy in working with migrant families in child welfare services: influencing factors

ABSTRACT The Child Welfare Services (CWS) practitioners’ cultural competence in service provision influences the practice and decision-making, and thus outcomes for migrant children and families. This study investigates social workers’ confidence in delivering culturally sensitive services in Norway and assesses the main influencing factors by examining the relationship between self-efficacy and personal and work-related resources. In this study, a Self-efficacy Scale was developed to assess professionals’ beliefs in their capability to work with migrant families. The scale was administered through a questionnaire to child welfare workers in Norway (N = 251), and the reliability of the scale measured by Cronbach's alpha coefficient was .904. The data were analysed using univariate statistics, correlations, and multiple regressions. The study shows that practitioners’ level of efficacy in working with migrant families is high. Experience, training, and access to services with cultural expertise were the main contributing factors to confidence in delivering culturally sensitive services in CWS. The findings add to an emerging body of research exploring welfare services providers’ efficacy in service provision and highlight the need for recognising professional experience and training needs as well as developing and strengthening collaboration with culturally sensitive services in advancing the cultural competence within CWS’ practice.