Using a funds of knowledge approach to support refugee children in Malaysia

Abstract

Having been forcibly uprooted from their home countries, refugees represent one of the most distressed, marginalised, and fragmented people groups in the world today. And among them, children are the most in need of support. This paper reports a qualitative case-study that examined the lived experiences of three refugee children at a Malaysian refugee centre. The study adopts an asset-oriented approach known as Funds of Knowledge (FoK), which refers to the knowledge, skills, practices and experiences that contribute to an individual’s wellbeing and identity formation. Collected over an 11-month period, the data comprised interviews, in-class and out-of-school observations, and participant-produced and researcher-generated artefacts. The data were analysed using open and axial coding methods to probe into the refugees’ knowledge, skills, practices and experiences that could be linked to their FoK. Four main types of FoK centred on their literacy practices, family, religion and aspirations were identified. The paper illustrates these FoK and shows how they forge vital qualities of mind, spirit and character in the young refugees, and how they can support their learning and overall wellbeing. It concludes with a discussion of key considerations in implementing an FoK approach to support refugee children in Malaysia and beyond.Accepted versio