Dyadic relations between refugees and volunteers: Support exchange and reciprocity experienced in buddy projects in Flanders, Belgium

Abstract:Refugees often leave behind perilous journeys to enter Europe and lengthy asylum procedures that jeopardize their long-term integration trajectory. Therefore, adequate and tailored social support by host society members is key. Although classical social support theories are frequently used in the framework of refugee resettlement and integration, they often neglect the influence of intergroup power asymmetries in support exchange. These asymmetries may become very outspoken in civic integration programs promoting supportive social connections via intergroup contact between refugees and local volunteers, such as buddy projects. In this research we study relationship experiences and social support exchange in dyadic interactions between local volunteers and refugees from Middle-Eastern and Eastern-African countries enrolled in buddy projects in Belgium (Flanders).

Publication year:2023

Accessibility:Open

Review status:Peer-reviewed