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.
Reflection
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.
Stockholm, Sweden
The author shares his experiences and the experiences of other refugees who are attempting to integrate to Stockholm and Cairo. Although the “West” is usually portrayed as an idealized destination for refugees, he found that both cities have their challenges. In some ways—like accessing affordable housing and making friends—life in Cairo was easier. In other ways though—like personal safety and experiences with racism—life in Stockholm has been better. Ultimately, the author found the support for refugees lacking from both the municipal governments and NGOs in both cities.
Albany Park, Chicago, USA
Amidst rhetorical headlines about refugees and borders in the United States, this report takes a step back to take the long view of how immigrants in a suburb of Chicago have adapted to American society, and adapted the neighborhood of Albany Park, introducing new medical centers, shops, and a university over the course of generations. The author was born in Syria, but as a long-time resident of Chicago and volunteer at a refugee resettlement agency, offers her own perspectives on the neighborhood’s successes integrating generations of new Americans.
Islamabad, Pakistan
Pakistan has experienced several waves of refugees due to recurring conflict in neighboring Afghanistan, as well as repeated internal displacement caused by complex emergencies within the country. This case report looks at the integration experiences of Afghan refugees in Islamabad’s “refugee villages,” paying special attention to education, which the author argues plays a central role in the integration of young people and their families to the city.