In this article, we examine the relationship between important types of policies for asylum permit holders in the Netherlands and the improvement in their command of Dutch. As far as asylum policy is concerned, we find that participation in activities in the asylum seekers reception centre – and in particular, following Dutch language classes – contribute to an improvement in Syrian asylum permit holders’ command of Dutch. On the other hand, a prolonged period of stay and frequent relocations between reception centres are not favourable. Asylum permit holders who have successfully completed the civic integration programme have a better command of the language than asylum permit holders who are still undergoing the programme. An important finding is that there seems to be a sort of double deficit in the area of civic integration: not only do the elderly and lower educated make less progress in learning Dutch, but they are also the ones more likely to receive a dispensation from the civic integration requirement, which places them at a further disadvantage. Third, we find that early participation in the labour market or as a volunteer is also beneficial for language proficiency.
LINK
This paper discusses sketching as a spatial and embodied ethnographic research method. Rather than a means to represent fieldwork experiences in quasi-photographic images, this method prompts researchers to slow down and open their senses. In doing so, sketching can initiate an imaginative and interpretive ethnographic process. In order to explore this process we draw on [first author’s] sketches of fieldwork encounters, made in the context of his participant observation in a Dutch Asylum Seekers’ Residence Centre. The sketches were made to imagine and interpret this border-space as it may be experienced by asylum seekers. Unlike other ethnographic research methods, sketching allowed [first author] to imagine his own perspective as well as the perspectives of asylum seekers involved in these encounters. In doing so, the sketches shed light on non-verbal, embodied interactions between asylum seekers and [first author], situated in the spatial and social setting of the Centre. Based on three fieldwork encounters, the paper demonstrates [first author’s] process of: (1) gaining access to the unfolding situations in front of his eyes; (2) registering his own perspectives of these situations; (3) imagining different perspectives of asylum seekers involved in these situations; (4) searching for different, and sometimes conflictual ways of framing these situations. Based on perceptual skills as well as contextual knowledge, the slow process of sketching helped us to gain critical and relational insights into the spaces opened up by these encounters.
DOCUMENT
The purpose of this study was to describe the care needs of adult traumatized refugees and asylum seekers. DESIGN AND METHODS. A mixed-methods design was used. A survey was conducted using the Camberwell Assessment of Need (CAN) among 30 patients. Semistructured in-depth interviews were subsequently conducted with eight of these patients. FINDINGS. Key themes among refugees are loneliness and grief. Refugees are in severe psychological distress. They also encounter all kinds of practical problems that influence their quality of life. Furthermore, many of them suffer from serious psychiatric and trauma-related problems. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. The results of this explorative study can contribute to the quality of care for traumatized refugees.
DOCUMENT
Musicians who want to facilitate music activities in asylum seekers in the Netherlands often face significant practical and organizational barriers which make the process of running such projects frustrating, time-consuming and demotivating. In February and March 2024, nine musicians with experience in working with asylum seekers in the Netherlands were interviewed. We discussed their projects, the common challenges they have faced in their work, and some methods they have developed that have shown success for both initiating and sustaining their activities in AZC’s. Their experiences provided a wealth of insights into what is required to work in an AZC context. This booklet outlines the key findings from these conversations and aims to help inform and inspire musicians who are working or want to work with asylum seekers in similar contexts.
MULTIFILE
The European Manifesto for Inclusive Learning is an initiative of the University of Florence to promote adult education for migrants and refugees. The program seeks to provide “a concrete tool for adult educators to promote adult learning in their local context”. In order to achieve this goal, eight European Union partners in different EU countries collaborated intensively for 1 ½ year to exchange experiences, expand opportunities and to seek to promote a more coordinated and integrated approach. Each partner collected case studies of good practices using a common tool for collecting data. The results of the Dutch partner, The Hague University of Applied Sciences are presented here. Seven cases have been studied with very different, mainly informal ways of mutual learning in the Netherlands. First the Manifesto is described in more detail. This is followed by a sketch of refugee flows to the Netherlands and the Dutch asylum system. After these chapters, the different cases are presented, followed by a conclusion and recommendations based on the Dutch good practices.
DOCUMENT
In the Netherlands and Europe, there exist approaches to refugee (re)settlement where asylum seekers face long waiting periods, in large-scale centres often isolated from Dutch society, with little-to-no opportunity to structure their day or participate in activities which bring meaning to their lives. These activities, which bring meaning people’s lives are termed occupations in the occupational therapy and occupation science literature. When the context hinders the opportunity to engage in these meaningful occupations, one experiences a situation of occupational injustice. These approaches taken in the Netherland and internationally creates the state of occupation injustice, this lack of ability to engage in meaningful activities, and this is turn has been documented to have negative effects on refugees health, well-being, identity and eventual inclusion in society.Parallel to these standard approaches in the Netherlands, are alternative approaches to refugee resettlement and integration. These alternatives are oftenbeing facilitated by charities, community-based organizations and citizen initiatives. Alternative programs currently aim to counter the government programs and focus on safe passages, for vulnerable populations, with an emphasis on early inclusion in society, community placement, sponsorship, and integration from the time of arrival. These alternative programs claim to address the issues of lack of meaningful engagement and isolation as currently seen in standard procedures, thereby claiming to improve integration, inclusion and wellbeing.This research aims to explore the lives and experiences of both the individuals living in, as well as the individuals facilitating these alternative programs. The research will explore how these programs are situated in and/or actively negotiating the broader context of refugee programs and policies in the Netherlands. This exploration will include the perspectives of the multiple actors involved, including service users and service providers, using a participatory methodology.Through exploring the perspectives on alternative programs through a participatory evaluation format, we are able to explore these programs as they are described, evaluated and experienced by theservices users themselves. This allows for a grounded understanding of the programs and their further potential.
DOCUMENT
Introduction This study aims to explore maternal and perinatal outcomes of migrant women in Iceland. Material and methods This prospective population-based cohort study included women who gave birth to a singleton in Iceland between 1997 and 2018, comprising a total of 92 403 births. Migrant women were defined as women with citizenship other than Icelandic, including refugees and asylum seekers, and categorized into three groups, based on their country of citizenship Human Development Index score. The effect of country of citizenship was estimated. The main outcome measures were onset of labor, augmentation, epidural, perineum support, episiotomy, mode of birth, obstetric anal sphincter injury, postpartum hemorrhage, preterm birth, a 5-minute Apgar <7, neonatal intensive care unit admission and perinatal mortality. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for maternal and perinatal outcomes were calculated using logistic regression models. Results A total of 8158 migrant women gave birth during the study period: 4401 primiparous and 3757 multiparous. Overall, migrant women had higher adjusted ORs (aORs) for episiotomy (primiparas: aOR 1.43, 95% CI 1.26–1.61; multiparas: 1.39, 95% CI 1.21–1.60) and instrumental births (primiparas: 1.14, 95% CI 1.02–1.27, multiparas: 1.41, 95% CI 1.16–1.72) and lower aORs of induction of labor (primiparas: 0.88, 95% CI 0.79–0.98; multiparas: 0.74, 95% CI 0.66–0.83), compared with Icelandic women. Migrant women from countries with a high Human Development Index score (≥0.900) had similar or better outcomes compared with Icelandic women, whereas migrant women from countries with a lower Human Development Index score than that of Iceland (<0.900) had additionally increased odds of maternal and perinatal complications and interventions, such as emergency cesarean and postpartum hemorrhage. Conclusions Women’s citizenship and country of citizenship Human Development Index scores are significantly associated with a range of maternal and perinatal complications and interventions, such as episiotomy and instrumental birth. The results indicate the need for further exploration of whether Icelandic perinatal healthcare services meet the care needs of migrant women.
DOCUMENT
Kinderen buiten beeld. De leefsituatie van ongedocumenteerde kinderen in Nederland Dit artikel werpt licht op de omstandigheden waaronder kinderen zonder verblijfsstatus (ongedocumenteerde kinderen) opgroeien in Nederland en niet in beeld zijn bij de overheid. Het betreft uitgeprocedeerde kinderen en kinderen die nooit een asielaanvraag hebben ingediend. In beide gevallen gaat het om kinderen die met hun ouders een bestaan in de illegaliteit opbouwen. De data zijn afkomstig uit een studie naar de woon- en leefsituatie van 29 illegale kinderen tussen 6 tot 19 jaar oud. De kinderen benoemen problemen die gedeeltelijk samenvallen met die van andere kinderen in Nederland, ook kinderen die in armoede opgroeien. De problemen van ongedocumenteerde kinderen werken echter zwaarder door. Ook staan zij onder grote psychische druk. Ze leven met het geheim van hun juridische status, zijn bang door de politie te worden opgepakt, weten niet wie ze kunnen vertrouwen en ervaren hun toekomst als ongewis.
DOCUMENT
