Challenges Faced by Unaccompanied Minor-Refugees in South Africa

Magqibelo, Lungile Magqibelo; Londt, Marcel; September, Shiron; Roman, Nicolette V.

doi:10.15270/52-1-480

Cited by 7 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 7 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…For example, in Auger-Voyers and colleagues ( 2014) study on URM in the Canary Islands, the youths discuss their future and the types of job they would like to do, and one of the boys says that he would like to be a carpenter, but that selling drugs is probably a more realistic alternative. In a study of URM in South Africa, Magqibelo et al (2016) note that on arrival in the country of asylum, the situation for many URM does not turn out as they have planned. Some of them end up in homelessness and on the streets, which may in turn lead to involvement in criminal activities.…”

Section: Contexts Associated With Drug Use and Criminalitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Drug use and criminality among unaccompanied refugee minors: a review of the literature

Ivert

Magnusson

2019

IJMHSC

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose Organisations working with children have acknowledged that unaccompanied refugee minors (URM) across Europe are exposed to environments and situations that put them at risk for becoming addicted to drugs or becoming involved in crime. The purpose of this paper is to study an examination of existing international research concerning URM and of whether, and if so how, issues relating to drug use and criminality among these children are discussed in the international literature. Design/methodology/approach A literature review was conducted using PsycINFO, PubMed, Sociological abstracts and ERIC databases, which together cover the social and behavioural science and also medicine. Findings Findings from the present review show that the issues of drug abuse and criminality among URM are rarely acknowledged in the international research literature. When the occurrence of substance abuse and/or criminality is discussed, it is often in relation to mental health problems and in terms of self-medication, i.e. that alcohol or drugs are used by the URM to cope with painful experiences or mental health problems, and also with the challenges of integrating into a new society, difficulties finding work, unsuitable living conditions and a lack of social support. Originality/value This review shows that several researchers have emphasised that untreated mental health problems, stressful living conditions and a lack of support and control might put these children at risk for substance abuse and criminality, and this suggests a need for further research in this area.

show abstract

Section: Contexts Associated With Drug Use and Criminalitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Drug use and criminality among unaccompanied refugee minors: a review of the literature

Ivert

Magnusson

2019

IJMHSC

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Ostensibly, migrant women often devalue their qualifications and take service jobs like domestic work as a measure to gain entry into the labour force. In some cases, this is because of some employers and organisations not recognising the refugees' right to work (Magqibelo et al, 2016), the desire to fend for family, as well as already existing challenges of forced migration (Chinyamurindi, 2012;Harry et al, 2017;Saunders, 2017).…”

Section: Empirical Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…A plethora of literature positions women refugees as a demographic group that is vulnerable often because of their difficult life trajectories (Abkherz & McMahon, 2017;Magqibelo et al, 2016;Noyori-Corbett & Moxley, 2017), an experience also noted in South Africa (Legal Resource Centre, 2015;United Nations High Commission of Refugees, 2016). The vocational obstacles and experiences among female refugees are not well-known as most refugee studies have presented women as dependants of men rather than economic providers (Kofman, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, they are not inherently vulnerable as their vulnerability depends on multiple factors which extend beyond the fact that they are females (Islam, Ingham, Hicks, & Manock, 2017). In the same way, refugees represent the most vulnerable and deprived fraction of the immigrant workforce (Magqibelo, Londt, September, & Roman, 2016; United Nations High Comissioner of Refugees, United Nations Population Fund Agency & Women's Refugee Commission, 2016). Having fled from their home countries, the moment refugees arrive in another country, they hope that they will be protected, they encounter adversity as they seek employment and navigate in this new and unfamiliar environment (Anderson, Stuart, & Rossen, 2015;Newman, Brimrose, Nielsem, & Zacher, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite strides made through the enactment of legislation that seeks to protect refugees, like the South African Refugee Act 130 of 1998, challenges still exist that impede the career development processes not just of refugees, but especially those of women refugees (Abkherz & McMahon, 2017;Magqibelo et al, 2016). This has led to calls, especially in South Africa, for studies that examine both the career transitions and the experiences of refugees (Elez, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The career development processes of women refugees in South Africa: An exploratory study

Nyabvudzi

Chinyamurindi

2019

SA j. ind. psychol.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Orientation: There is an observed global movement of labour (freely and forcibly). South Africa emerges as a popular receiving ground for refugees. Within the career psychology literature, scant attention is given to understanding the career development concerns, post-settlement, of women refugees in the host country.Research purpose: The study explored the career development processes of women refugees, post-settlement, in South Africa as a host country.Motivation for the study: Calls have been made within local and international literature for studies that give attention to understanding the career development processes of minority groups.Research approach/design and method: Using a narrative inquiry approach, this study explored the career development processes of women refugees using a sample of 20 women refugees in South Africa. Relying on a snowball sampling procedure to recruit the participants, in-depth interviews were utilised as a data collection technique.Main findings: Drawing on participants’ narratives, the findings illustrate how women refugees have been more concerned with fulfilling a short-term desire for survival and acquiring basic commodities at the expense of a longer focus of advancement and career progression. This is mainly compounded by the structural constraints that limit both their career development and their lived experiences. Issues exclusive to the women refugees are also revealed. Overall, the results illustrate how all the aforementioned factors intersect as barriers that hinder women refugees in developing their careers.Practical/managerial implications: The study provides information and strategies that policymakers in South Africa and other developing nations that are hosting refugees can use to facilitate the career development processes of women refugees.Contribution/value-add: This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge focussing on career development of women refuges, a populace that previously received limited focus both locally and internationally.

show abstract

Development and validation of a questionnaire to assess Unaccompanied Migrant Minors’ needs (AEGIS-Q)

Pietro

Zaçe

Sisti

et al. 2020

European Journal of Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background While many studies focus on specific aspects of Unaccompanied Migrant Minors’ (UMMs) health, especially mental well-being, there is a lack of tools comprehensively assessing their needs. To fill this gap, we developed and validated a questionnaire to thoroughly assess unAccompaniEd miGrant mInorS’ physical, psychological, legal, spiritual, social and educational needs (AEGIS-Q). Methods This work consisted of three stages. The first one involved an extensive literature review. Given the results of the review, a first draft of the questionnaire was developed and submitted to a panel of experts for validation (Delphi method-second stage). During the third stage, the final version of the questionnaire was pilot-tested in a sample of 18 UMMs. Results The questionnaire, drafted based on the results of the review, consisted of sections covering personal data, migration profile, physical health needs and access to healthcare, psychological needs, legal needs, spiritual needs and educational and social needs of UMMs. After two Delphi rounds, the final version of the questionnaire, consisting of 83 questions, was structured. The pilot study had a response rate of 89–100%. We found substantial reliability for most of the sections in the questionnaire, including physical health (α=0.652), legal (α=0.781), and educational and social (α=0.614) needs. The questions regarding psychological needs had very high reliability (α=0.860). Conclusions The questionnaire offers a useful sharable tool to assess and monitor UMMs’ needs, helping the reception system to better know and meet their needs and implement the taking in charge.

show abstract

Challenges Faced by Unaccompanied Minor-Refugees in South Africa

Cited by 7 publications

References 7 publications

Drug use and criminality among unaccompanied refugee minors: a review of the literature

Drug use and criminality among unaccompanied refugee minors: a review of the literature

The career development processes of women refugees in South Africa: An exploratory study

Development and validation of a questionnaire to assess Unaccompanied Migrant Minors’ needs (AEGIS-Q)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About