Changing childhoods: Migrant children and the confrontation of uncertainty

Children's agency in resettlement: a study of Swedish cultural orientation programs in Kenya and Sudan

“…They sometimes even correct the information given by the representatives (Excerpt 3). By doing so, they take part in the conversations and manage to make room for themselves on the basis of what they know (Christopoulou and Leeuw 2008). The negotiations of power relations are highly related to the amount of knowledge regarding Sweden and the participants' backgrounds; thus the power relations can, to some extent, be said to be epistemologically grounded.…”

“…Her questions are also welcomed by the representatives, who give her attention and make an effort to answer her. According to Christopoulou and de Leeuw (2008), the insecurity that follows the migration process also enables children to be more involved and show awareness and a sense of responsibility when coming into contact with the new society, like Nora does by inquiring about the economic aspects in the new country.…”

“…Focusing on children who arrive as migrants with their families, the study assumes an agency perspective whereby the children are viewed as actors, who within the uncertainty of migration show confidence, find creative solutions and make use of their own resources in order to navigate in their new society (Christopoulou and de Leeuw 2008).…”

That will be your home : Resettlement preparations for children and youth from the Horn of Africa

“…The need to focus on children's agency, even within contexts marked by severe hardship and constraints such as war and poverty, has also been stressed (de Berry 2004). Recently, a more agency-oriented approach has emerged in migration research focusing on children (Lundberg & Dahlqvist 2012;Christopoulou & Leeuw 2005;Archambault 2012;Adams 2009;Hopkins & Hill 2008: Svensson et al 2009). Primarily, the agency aspect in these studies has meant an increased effort to study children's experiences and perspectives through interviews.…”