Towards integrated Practices of Schools, Reception Centres and Leisure Time Facilities for Refugee Children: an Action Research.

The aim of this project is twofold. Firstly, it aspires to develop and examine cooperative intersectoral practices with stakeholders who work with refugee children in reception centres. Secondly, it purports to gain knowledge to inform future policies on the welcoming of refugee children and their families. The project, then, is both practice-and policy-oriented. Inspired by the principles of Children Zones, and social geographic differentiation an action research will be conducted in two settings: the metropolitan City of Antwerp and the suburban area of Lint. In each setting intersectoral networks will be formed enabling the staff of the reception centres to cooperate with school staff and staff of leisure organisations. The networks will: - Enable staff members from different sectors to see the children's perspectives on school, leisure activities and the daily life in the reception centre (output of project 'On the road' ) and inspire intersectoral dialogue and cooperation; - Establish parent research groups, led by the network participants and supported, observed and analysed by the research team; - Analyse the collaboration in the network and the way children and their families experience this collaboration, leading to changes and innovations and to local policy recommendations. Adherence to a research informed approach will be guaranteed by: - conducting a solid literature study on supportive and inclusive practices for refugee children. - incorporating the findings of the PWO project 'On the road' (2018-2020) that analysed children's experiences in reception centres, schools and leisure time. We distinguish four types of valorisation - The project's participatory nature and the active engagement of all partners will yield inclusive and intersectoral practices for the children and their families. - An expert panel, with stakeholders working on policy levels such as the Flemish Office of the Children's Rights Commissioner, the Flemish Department of Education and local ngo's will be established. This panel will check the Policy Recommendations' feasibility. - By means of an essay and an opinion piece we will contribute to the public debate about the situation of refugee children and their families and of the staff working with these families in different sectors. - The outcomes of this action research will be input for the preparation of a larger, European project, with a scope depending on future calls. Possible scopes, all related to this proposal, are: stakeholder cooperation for the welcoming of refugee children, meaningful leisure time for children with a vulnerable background, social innovation projects for refugee families and/or for practitioners working with refugee families of vulnerable families in general.

Keywords:SCHOOL CULTURE

Disciplines:Education systems not elsewhere classified, Education, culture and society not elsewhere classified, Family studies, Sociology of child, adolescence and youth, Citizenship, immigration and political inequality not elsewhere classified

Project type:Collaboration project