The Refugee Experience Marilyn Fellows Kellogg Revised 6/01/2009 from EP 7050: Qualitative Methodology & Applied Research Plymouth State University November 2005

To Raise Happy, Healthy, Well-adjusted Children A parent’s role is to protect children physically & psychologically, provide resources, advocate, connect with the community, give spiritual fulfillment A “family unit” is responsible for the transmission of culture According to best practices: Bronfenbrenner –Adler – Bowlby & Ainsworth – Glasser - Walker & Riley

Manchester, NH Refugees 11. 5 Million are Children Of the 23 Million Refugee: one outside his/her country, unable to return, due to well-founded fear of violence, injury, torture, death……because of social group, race, religion, nationality, political opinion or environmental disaster Manchester, NH Over 10 % of population refugees and immigrants Over 72 different languages spoken 3-month moratorium in 2004

“Nothing of this magnitude since the Holocaust” Research says del Valle – Boswell – Daycare Trust “Nothing of this magnitude since the Holocaust” Must leave behind all familiar and known Confused, frightened, overwhelmed Major medical and psychological issues Fear of government and social agencies Some with little or no formal schooling Language difficulties

Escape From violence at home to shark-infested waters …night runs across borders unknown… to arrival into unfamiliar lands….

Survivors of torture & trauma in their homelands… …escaping to dangerous, crowded camps of despair and hopelessness… physical & psychological traumas of war, torture, disappearance or death of family members and friends…

With all these Challenges "The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things."  Plato With all these Challenges Are parents who believe in a better tomorrow…

…And are looking for A Safe Haven, Friendships, A New Start… New opportunities and challenges for us all