The author, a former resident of Al-Hasakah, Syria, and current resident of Albany Park, Chicago, USA, reflects on her integration experiences, new and old. She compares and contrasts integration in both spaces in an effort to better understand the complexity of coexistence.
Integration
Sydney, Australia
This case report examines how young people, like the author, interact with the legal system in Australia and focus on the three areas of law practiced by Legal Aid: Civil, Criminal, and Family. It will look through the lens of the author’s experience moving to Fairfield as a refugee and now working in refugee services.
Aarhus, Denmark
Abdullah Alsmaeel writes about the difficulties refugee parents face in being involved in their children’s education, from interacting with teachers to openly hostile Danish policies towards refugees. It is difficult to raise children in a new country and culture. But there's a glimmer of hope. Refugee parents Abdullah meets in Aarhus strongly believe that education is a healer and that education benefits all who have access to it. "Education heals the wounds and reduces suffering. Education is a protection," said Farah, 34 years, a mother of three in Aarhus. Refugee parents work to motivate their kids and promote the value of education. Fortunately, in Denmark it is important for parents to be involved in their children’s education, so in this regard, refugees and hosts are already on the same page.
Aarhus, Denmark
Aarhus is Denmark’s second largest city with a population of 336,411. The Refugees in Towns Aarhus case report looks at the integration experience of refugees within a Nordic welfare state. On the one hand, the welfare state provides services and support that may be unimaginable in many other urban displacement settings. On the other hand, the national debates and policies on refugees and immigration have become focused on restricting access and conflation of debates on refugees and radicalization. The report is written by a long-time Aarhus resident and new Syrian refugee arrival.