'It's like being born a second time because you don't know nothing' : reconciling cultures and looking to the future in the views of separated refugees

• Main Author: Cox, Claire
• Published: University of Essex 2013
• Subjects: 362.77914
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.605578

Separated refugee young people (SRYP) who arrive in the UK without parents or carers can present with a range of needs as well as coping abilities. Within the small body of literature currently available, these young people can be described as having "a hunger for education, and a capacity and stubborn willingness to succeed despite the odds" (Kohli &Mather, 2003. Page 210). The current qualitative study aimed to gather and explore the views of SRYP who have attended an educational setting since arriving in the UK. In particular, the study aimed to explore the role of education in the lives of SRYP males. Six young males who arrived in the UK from Afghanistan, Kuwait, Albania and Guinea were interviewed using semi-structured interviews around their experiences of education and other systems since their arrival. The data was analysed using inductive/deductive Thematic Analysis and four themes were identified: Identity, Agency and attribution, Coping, Relationships. Limitations of the study and recommendations for further research will be made. This study adds to the very limited body of research which explores the views of SRYP in relation to education, and therefore has implications for EPs, school staff, social workers and other staff working to support SRYP in educational settings