Refugee – Page 2 – Refugee Educational Advancement Lab (REAL)

October 31, 2022October 31, 2022

Giving Voice to the Voiceless: The Value of Creative Expression and Arts-Based Education Initiatives for Refugees

By: Ciara Hoyne

Peer-reviewed by REAL members

In 2021, 13,700 refugees were resettled in the U.S., which is approximately 43 percent more than in the year 2020 (UNHCR, 2022). Push factors such as the outbreak of war in Ukraine in February 2022, the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in the summer of 2021, multiple ongoing humanitarian and economic crises, and worldwide climate catastrophes have intensified the flows of refugees into the U.S. A particular challenge to grappling with the rise in numbers of refugees is finding ways to effectively include and integrate migrants into their host societies (Moreira & Jakobi, 2021). Upon resettling, refugees are often confronted with the reality of discrimination and lack of inclusion based upon their linguistic, cultural, or ethnic backgrounds (Brown, 2015). Many refugees also struggle with the experience of cultural bereavement or the “experience of the uprooted person, or group, resulting from loss of social structures, cultural values and self-identity” (Beauregard, 2020) as they adjust to life in a new country. The challenges refugees face have adverse psycho-sociological effects and can inhibit their sense of inclusion and agency within the host community (Beauregard, 2020). As a result, refugees are often left struggling to grasp a cohesive sense of identity, while simultaneously seeking to find a voice and sense of purpose.

While refugees may face undue challenges to feeling included within host societies, opportunities for creative expression or arts based education programs can act as a pathway to improving feelings of inclusion, confidence, agency, and empowerment (Nashwan, Steckler, Abdulhaq, 2019). Creativity allows the individual to see from a different perspective by developing one’s own vision of the world, and often entails synthesizing and channeling past and present experiences into different forms of art (Brown & Bousalis, 2017). This synthesizing process is especially valuable as a coping mechanism for refugee populations who have experienced cultural bereavement and trauma associated with being displaced from one’s home. Refugees can also utilize creative expression as a way to connect to their own heritage and maintain a sense of identity (Beauregard, 2020). For example, creative practices, such as theater and hip-hop dance have significant value for Middle Eastern youth living in the U.S., as it allows youth to connect to the tradition of storytelling present in many Arab cultures (Nashwan, et. al., 2019). Participation of refugee youth in theater and hip-hop reflects the notion that refugees can engage in creative practices that allow them to participate in American culture while still maintaining ties to their native culture. Similar to this idea, artistic practices also incorporate the “expression of ambivalence and change” (Beauregard, 2020), which can aid in keeping refugee students grounded as they navigate considerable amounts of change upon resettling to live in the U.S.

Perhaps even more important to consider is the unique quality of creative practices to exist across cultural and national lines, embodying an ability to connect to a sense of appreciation inherent in all people (Nashwan, et. al., 2019). That is to say, no matter what cultural background an individual may come from, arts-based education is capable of reinforcing and strengthening intercultural relationships. This can invoke change on both the individual and broader community level. According to one study by Moreira & Jakobi (2021), refugees, as well as locals participating in creative intervention projects, were able to cultivate a process of mutual exchange and dialogue. Similar findings were the result of a study on arts cooperation projects in refugee communities in Polykastro, Greece. Overall it suggested that public arts projects can promote the acceptance and inclusion of refugee communities into the broader fabric of the local community (Escaño, et. al., 2021). Both studies reveal that arts-based education projects can improve the relationship between recently resettled refugees and locals within their community. This relationship acts to aid refugees in their feelings of inclusion within society, mitigate the harmful psycho-social effects associated with resettlement, and reduces experiences of discrimination.

In addition to social inclusion, opportunities for creative expression also positively contribute to refugees’ communication abilities and confidence levels. One program based on creative writing workshops for refugees found that refugees were able to benefit from self-expression, and improve their English language skills (Stickley et. al, 2018). Improvement of language skills, coupled with the welcoming environment of the workshop, ultimately provided refugees with a newfound sense of confidence in their abilities to express themselves and to cultivate a voice that can be heard and appreciated within their new community. Despite disadvantages in English language speaking abilities, creative writing workshops for refugees and people seeking asylum have proven to be successful ways for refugees to be socially included.

Confidence-building in creative expression is also relevant to the use of spoken word poetry in multilingual classrooms. One program highlighted spoken word poetry workshops within classroom spaces that allowed refugee students to create their own narratives and engage with their own voice in a way that was not impeded by language barriers or limited proficiency in English (Burton & Van Viegen, 2021). The workshop also allowed both native and non-native speakers of English to collaborate by “negotiating meaning and translating words for one another” (Burton & Van Viegen, 2021). This proved to be successful in helping non-refugee students understand refugee students’ difficult experiences of linguistic standards and discrimination present within the classroom (Burton & Van Viegen, 2021). The enhanced communal understanding of refugee students’ linguistic challenges is valuable because it can lead to a greater sense of compassion and empathy within learning environments and local communities.

Given the benefits of creativity and arts-based education programs for refugee populations, U.S. schools and community service providers should work to incorporate more of these arts-based education initiatives into their curriculums and program schedules. In order to carry out this call to action, I recommend that schools first work to reduce the stigma associated with the arts as less valuable in comparison to other academic endeavors such as math and science. Second, in addition to illuminating the value of the arts, it is essential that schools and community service providers enhance the allocation of arts-based funding in order to gather sufficient resources and support for facilitating programs that can provide refugees with the utmost benefits. Third, I recommend that these arts-based initiatives combine the participation of refugees with involvement of the local community to bring attention to the positive value that refugees can add to society. The transformative power of creative expression and arts-based education can serve as an outlet for refugees to be seen and appreciated by a greater audience. Above all, these initiatives can serve as an opportunity for refugees to feel empowered, hopeful, and welcome in the U.S.

References

Beauregard, C. (2020). Being in between: Exploring Cultural Bereavement and Identity Expression through Drawing. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health Vol. 15 (3), 292-310. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2019.1702131

Brown, C. S. (2015). The Educational, Psychological, and Social Impact of Discrimination on
the Immigrant Child. Migration Policy Institute. 1-17.

Brown, S. L., & Bousalis, R. (2017). Empowering Young Minds Through Communication, Creative Expression, and Human Rights in Refugee Art. Art Education, Vol. 70 (4), 48-50. https://doi.org/10.1080/00043125.2017.1317562

Burton, J. & VanViegan, S. (2021). Spoken Word Poetry with Multilingual Youth from Refugee Backgrounds. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, Vol. 65 (1), 75-84. doi: 10.1002/jaal.1178

Escaño, C., Mesías-Lema, J.M., & Mañero, J. (2021). Empowerment of the refugee migrant community through a cooperation project on art education in Greece. Development in Practice, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/09614524.2021.1944986

Moreira, A. I. A., & Jakobi, A. L. P. (2021). Re-Voicing the Unheard: Meta-Study on Arts-Based Interventions for Social Inclusion of Refugees and Asylum Seekers. Journal of Education, Culture, and Society, Vol. (2), 93-112. doi: 10.15503.jecs2021.2.93.112

Nashwan, A. J., Steckler, T., & Abdulhaq, B. K. (2019). Healing Through Expression: How the Arts Transform the Experience of Syrian Refugees in Jordan. Human and Social Sciences, Vol.46 (3), 377-388.

Stickley, T., Hui, A., Stubley, M., Baker, F., & Watson, M. C. (2019). “Write here, sanctuary” creative writing for refugees and people seeking asylum. Arts & Health, Vol.11(3), 246-263. https://doi.org/10.1080/17533015.2018.1494450

UNHCR. (2022, July 21). The U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program Explained. UNRefugees.org.https://www.unrefugees.org/news/the-u-s-refugee-resettlement-program-explained/

UNHCR. (2021). Figures at a Glance. UNHCR.org. https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/figures-at-a-glance.html

April 7, 2022November 14, 2022

A Call for Inclusion of Refugee Mothers at All Levels of Education

By: Haley Skeens

Peer-reviewed by REAL members

At the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, education was established as a basic human right for all refugees. Yet, over 30 years later, girls and women with refugee backgrounds still suffer from unequal access to education (UNHCR, 2022). This includes refugee mothers, who are often neglected in education research and policy.

Most research on education for refugee mothers revolves around pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare education (Erdemir, 2022; Henry, 2020; Ponguta et al. 2019). Little has been published about refugee mothers’ educational journeys. Governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) need to allocate greater funds towards more inclusive research and educational options for vulnerable groups, such as refugee mothers, to ensure equal access to education at all levels.

Barriers

Common barriers refugee mothers face include gender-specific, cultural expectations which limit their educational access. An Australian study showed that some husbands prohibited refugee mothers from attending mixed-gender language learning classes due to cultural gender norms (Riggs et al., 2012). Men are viewed as the financial head of the family, so men and boys’ education is prioritized over that of women and girls in some cultures (Riggs et al., 2012).

In a separate study, researchers Harris et al. (2013) explored education for refugee mothers as a threat to male authority, especially the authority of husbands. Refugee mothers accessing education were seen as “creating ‘gender trouble’” because they were traversing typical gender roles (Harris et al., 2013, p. 190). Often, traditional gender roles expect men and boys to provide financial support while refugee mothers care for children and the home. Limited childcare including options perceived as culturally inappropriate by refugee mothers present an obstacle for those who would like to access education (Riggs et al., 2012, p. 399).

Refugee mothers also face limited funds for education and must consider childcare costs and additional educational expenses. Riggs et al.’s (2012) study discussed the financial stressors placed on refugee mothers in relation to their own and their children’s education. In their study, mothers enrolled in full-time education programs wished to attend part-time school to lessen the burden of childcare expenses but were concerned that such change would affect their welfare payments. Refugee mothers were also upset that their children’s school had hidden fees for extra activities and field trips (Riggs et al., 2012). However, a 2017 study found that lack of childcare was only an obstacle for married mothers. Husbands enforced gendered caretaking roles for refugee mothers. Therefore, single moms with refugee backgrounds had more autonomy over their educational decisions. Single mothers also shared that they felt obligated to continue their education to earn a higher-paying job and provide as the sole breadwinner (Perry & Mallozzi, 2017). This raises the question of autonomy versus financial necessity for single moms choosing to pursue education.

Refugee mothers also face the challenge of knowing the language of instruction in host countries. Many are eligible to take language classes but have difficulty attending due to family responsibilities and lack of childcare. Without access to language education, refugee mothers have lower chances of passing the language tests often required for admission to tertiary education programs (UNHCR, 2019). This is reflected in Ergin and de Wit’s (2020) study which found that of Syrian refugee background students who only had one parent attain a higher education degree, 30.87% were fathers while only 7.8% were mothers.

Riggs et al. (2012) explain that “language skills are vital for participating in education and employment, and accessing services, which in turn, affect opportunities to develop social connections” (p. 398). Unfortunately, refugee mothers are at a higher risk of exclusion from language education, which increases risk of social isolation, postpartum depression, and depression (Riggs et al., 2012). This emphasizes the need for refugee mothers’ access to language education because without sufficient language training, their sense of belonging, mental health, and well-being are negatively impacted.

However, refugee mothers are not a monolith, and their experiences vary, including other challenges not mentioned above. By examining common barriers, we can begin to discuss possible solutions and urge governments and NGOs to increase accessibility of education services for student mothers with refugee backgrounds.

Recommendations

Barriers to accessing education can be detrimental to refugee mothers, affecting families, communities, and nations. If refugee mothers gain access to more educational opportunities, research shows that “health, education, social, economic and leadership prospects increase while vulnerability…decreases” (UNESCO, 2019). Therefore, governments, universities, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) need to offer more inclusive education programs to best support refugee mothers and communities.

Several programs currently exist which serve as examples on how to help refugee mothers access education. For Syrian refugee mothers in Turkey, Arar et al. (2018) describe a program that includes a nursery for children alongside language classes and vocational courses which allow women to learn profitable skills. Ergin and de Wit (2020) also suggest programs to increase Syrian female refugees’ access to education including female-only scholarships, childcare at universities, and spreading awareness about the importance of girls education. These solutions provide support systems for refugee mothers and daughters to access higher education, and it is imperative that resettlement agencies work together with local organizations and universities to offer these educational opportunities to increase gender equality in schooling.

Arizona State University’s Digital English Language Courses at the Za’atari Camp Center in Jordan offer access to refugee mothers through flexible education models. This program emphasizes “gender parity in program recruitment” and facilitates access to education by offering on-site daycare (Connected Learning in Crisis Consortium, 2019, p. 30). Refugee mothers can “participate…and improve their English skills…with their children supervised by NRC staff nearby.” (Connected Learning in Crisis Consortium, 2019, p. 30). These types of programs and wraparound services are crucial to supporting refugee mothers’ success in education.

Amidst what “looks set to become Europe’s largest refugee crisis this century,” it is crucial to act now (Mantoo, 2022). The UNHCR has recently mobilized field staff to Ukraine and surrounding countries to assure that refugees’ basic humanitarian needs are met, including education. Education systems must be ready to help not only children integrate into school systems but other student populations such as refugee mothers. Investing time and effort in ensuring refugee mothers’ access to education will benefit individuals, refugee communities, and contribute to national and global well-being.

All opinions are exclusively those of the author and not of George Washington University, the Graduate School of Education and Human Development, the Refugee Educational Advancement Laboratory or any of its members or other entities.

References

Arar, K., Deniz Orucu., & Akki, G. (2018). Culturally Relevant School Leadership for Syrian Refugee Students in Challenging Circumstances, Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 47(6), 960-979.

Connected Learning in Crisis Consortium. (2019). ASU’s Digital English Language Courses in Za’atari Camp, Jordan. https://connectedlearning4refugees.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/CLCC-2019-Yearbook_Final.pdf

Erdemir, E. (2022). Home-Based Early Education for Refugee and Local Children via Mothers: A model of contextually sensitive early intervention. Journal of Child and Family Studies. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-021-02197-7

Ergin, H. & de Wit, H. (2020). Integration policy for Syrian refugees’ access to Turkish Higher Education: Inclusive enough? In Curaj, A., Deca, L. & Pricopie, R. (Eds.), European Higher Education Area: Challenges for a new decade (pp. 121-131). Cham: Springer.

Harris, A., Spark, C., & Ngum Chi, M. C. (2013). The Barriers that Only You Can See: African Australian women thriving in tertiary education despite the odds. Géneros (Barcelona), 2(2), 182–202.

Henry, J., Beruf, C., & Fischer, T. (2020). Access to Health Care for Pregnant Arabic-Speaking Refugee Women and Mothers in Germany. Qualitative Health Research, 30(3), 437–447. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732319873620

Mantoo, S., (2022). UNHCR mobilizing to aid forcibly displaced in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.UNHCR.https://www.unhcr.org/news/briefing/2022/3/621deda74/unhcr-mobilizing-aid-forcibly-displaced-ukraine-neighbouring-countries.html

Perry, K.H., & Mallozzi, C. A. (2017). “We have education, I can say that”: Worldview and access to education for adult refugees. International Journal of Applied Linguistics, 27(2), 491–513. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijal.12152

Ponguta, L.A., Issa, G., Aoudeh, L., Maalouf, C., Nourallah, S., Khoshnood, K., Zonderman, A. L., Katsovich, L., Moore, C., Salah, R., Al‐Soleiti, M., Britto, P. R., & Leckman, J. F. (2019). Implementation Evaluation of the Mother‐Child Education Program Among Refugee and Other Vulnerable Communities in Lebanon. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 2019(167), 91–116. https://doi.org/10.1002/cad.20314

UNESCO. (2019). From Access to Empowerment: UNESCO strategy for gender equality in and through education 2019-2025. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000369000

UNHCR. (2019). Doubling our Impact: Third country higher education pathways for refugees.https://www.unhcr.org/5e5e4c614.pdf

UNHCR. (2022). Women. https://www.unhcr.org/en-us/women.html