Making Homes in Limbo: Embodied Virtual “Homes” in Prolonged Conditions of Displacement

This special issue makes an original contribution to our understanding of the meaning of home by introducing the idea of the constellation of HOME-Home-home and homemaking practices where these are not necessarily foreseen, in contexts of displacement. In this article, I argue that we need to distinguish between humanitarian-driven understandings of “protracted refugee situations” and peoplecentred experiences of “prolonged conditions of displacement.” I show how the papers in the special issue bring to the fore inconsistencies between state-centred perspectives and people-centred meanings of the “constellation of homes.” Lastly, I examine the significance of other spaces where home may be made during prolonged displacements: the virtual space. I conclude by suggesting that we need to examine in greater depth the complex relationship between the dwelling, home, and homemaking practices when these occur in material and de-territorialized virtual spaces.Ce numéro spécial de Refuge apporte une contribution originale à la façon dont nous concevons l’idée de «domicile» en postulant la constellation triadique de DOMICILE-Domicile-domicile ainsi que les pratiques reliées à l’établissement d’un domicile dans des contextes parfois inattendus, en ce qui concerne les situations de déplacement. Dans cet article, j’avance qu’il faut distinguer entre les conceptions humanitaires reliées aux «situations de réfugiés prolongés» et les expériences en «conditions prolongées de déplacement» axées sur les individus. Je montre comment les articles dont le numéro spécial est composé font ressortir les désaccords inhérents entre les perspectives étatiques et les conceptions expérientielles des individus autour de cette «constellation» triadique de «domicile». En dernier lieu, je me penche sur l’importance d’autres espaces qui pourraient servir de contexte à l’établissement d’un domicile en situation de déplacement prolongé, notamment l’espace virtuel. Pour conclure, je propose qu’on réexamine en profondeur la relation complexe entre les pratiques de logement, de domicile, et d’établissement de domicile dans leur actualisation matérielle ainsi que dans le contexte d’espaces virtuels déterritorialisés

Divergent discourses, children and forced migration

Experiences of refugee, internally displaced and migrant children in different contexts (such as post-conflict and resettlement) are often considered separately, yet closer analysis points to the existence of commonalities across transnational locations and a need to articulate the ways in which global systems, state policies and migration processes impact on the lives of these children. Current discourses, policies and practices towards forced migrant children show that there are divergent and at times conflicting constructions of childhood and migration, and implicitly reveal the positions that these children occupy in relation to the nation-state system. In this article we focus on the existence of common divergent discourses that emerge from contexts in the global North and South, including Rwanda, Uganda, Ireland and the United Kingdom, where we have carried out research with children forced to move. Our overall aim is to re-politicise the position of child and youth forced migration through an analysis of three sets of divergent or ambivalent discourses: a) forced-migrant children as product of and threat to the nation-state; b) ‘visible’ and ‘invisible’ children; and c) the ‘psychological’ and the ‘political’ child

“Refugee Voices,” New Social Media and Politics of Representation: Young Congolese in the Diaspora and Beyond

This article examines the role of new social media in the articulation and representation of the refugee and diasporic “voice.” The article problematizes the individualist, de-politicized, de-contextualized, and aestheticized representation of refugee/diasporic voices. It argues that new social media enable refugees and diaspora members to exercise agency in managing the creation, production, and dissemination of their voices and to engage in hybrid (on- and offline) activism. These new territories for self-representation challenge our conventional understanding of refugee/diaspora voices. The article is based on research with young Congolese living in the diaspora, and it describes the Geno-cost project created by the Congolese Action Youth Platform (CAYP) and JJ Bola’s spoken-word piece, “Refuge.” The first shows agency in the creation of analytical and activist voices that promote counter-hegemonic narratives of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, while the second is an example of aesthetic expressions performed online and offline that reveal agency through authorship and ownership of one’s voice. The examples highlight the role that new social media play in challenging mainstream politics of representation of refugee/diaspora voices.Cet article étudie le rôle des nouveaux médias sociaux dans la politique de la représentation de la « voix » des réfugiés et de la diaspora. Il propose une problématisation des approches trop souvent dépoliticisées, uniformisées et individualisées à la représentation des « voix des réfugiés et de la diaspora ». Il soutient que les nouveaux médias sociaux permettent aux réfugies d’exercer leur propre volonté d’agir en gérant la création, la production et la dissémination de récits alternatifs et en s’engageant dans un militantisme hybride (en ligne ainsi que hors ligne). Ces nouveaux lieux d’auto-représentation mettent en question nos conceptions conventionnelles des voix des réfugiés et de la diaspora. En se basant sur la recherche parmi de jeunes Congolais faisant partie de la diaspora au Royaume-Uni, l’article décrit le projet geno-cost développé par le Congolese Action Youth Platform (CAYP), ainsi que la création poétique orale intitulée « Refuge » de JJ Bola. Le premier exemple étudie l’exercice de la volonté d’agir qui se manifeste dans le développement de voix analytiques et militantes qui appuient des récits anti-hégémoniques concernant les causes et les solutions du conflit prolongé en République démocratique du Congo, alors que le deuxième exemple représente une instance d’expression politique et esthétique performée en ligne ainsi que hors ligne qui démontre la volonté d’agir par l’entremise de la création et la possession de sa propre voix. Effectivement, ces exemples soulignent le rôle que jouent les nouveaux médiassociaux pour contrer les politiques conventionnelles de représentation en matière de voix des réfugiés et de ceux qui font partie de la diaspora

Stressful life events, psychological symptoms, and social support of children and young asylum-seekers in Iceland

Background: Children and young asylum-seekers are often exposed to stressful life events (SLEs) and risk developing psychological symptoms. However, risk and protective factors can positively and negatively influence this vulnerable group’s mental health. Aims: To examine the SLE experiences and psychological symptoms of children and youth who seek refuge in Iceland. And to study the role that gender, travelling (un)accompanied and perceived social support play in the development of psychological symptoms for this population. Methods: Participants were 75 children and youth of ages 13 to 24 years who sought asylum in Iceland (M = 19.7, SD =3.0, 66.7% male). Sociodemographic and social support data were collected via face-to-face interviews, with the help of interpreters when required, while SLEs, post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety and behavioural symptoms measures were administered to participants. Results: The results indicated that participants who travelled alone to Iceland had experienced more SLEs than those who travelled accompanied. SLE experiences were associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological symptoms. Results also revealed that SLE and perceived peer support played a significant role in predicting PTSD symptoms. Conclusions: Children and young asylum-seekers are exposed to a high number of SLEs, which increases their risk of developing psychological problems. This potential risk underlines the need for early assessments and intervention. Moreover, higher levels of social support were related to less severe PTSD symptoms, suggesting that social resources act as protective factors for these children and youth in helping them cope with SLEs.acceptedVersio

Ser joven de etnia mixta en Ruanda

La transición de la infancia a la edad adulta resulta especialmente compleja para los jóvenes con raíces étnicas mixtas, que se sienten ‘fuera de lugar’ por partida doble: como jóvenes adultos y como mestizos. Los retos son obvios en Ruanda

Being young and of mixed ethnicity in Rwanda

The transition from childhood into adulthood is particularly complex for young people of mixed ethnic backgrounds who experience being ‘out of place’ twice: as young adults and as ethnically mixed. The challenges are clear in Rwand