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.
Detroit, Michigan, USA
When the American auto industry took a downturn in the 1990s and 2000s, it left numerous neighborhoods in and around Detroit impoverished and neglected. This case report looks at the way Syrian and other Arab and Muslim refugees and migrants are renovating these aged neighborhoods with their own cultural heritage. The author is a migrant from Iran who spent years living in Detroit.
Amman, Jordan
This case report focuses on Amman, which has for years been at the center of prolonged refugee experiences. Jordan has served as a haven for different groups fleeing persecution throughout history, from the arrival of Palestinian refugees after 1948 and again after 1967, to the acceptance of Iraqi refugees in the wake of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. Since 2012, there has been an influx of Syrian refugees. Recently, Sudanese and Yemeni refugee populations have also started to grow, as has the presence of migrant workers from Egypt, and others from African and Southeast Asian countries.
Kyiv, Ukraine
The Kyiv case report looks at the ways internally displaced persons (IDPs) from eastern Ukraine both struggle with integration to the capital, but also become agents of change to transfer the culture and economy of the city. The report is written by a former resident of east Ukraine who has herself become integrated to Kyiv over several years.
Johannesburg, South Africa & Mangochi, Malawi
The Johannesburg case report looks at Malawian migrants in one of South Africa’s largest cities. It explores the ways value transfer and financial obligations back home both obstruct integration to their new neighborhood and maintain integration with their old villages. It also describes the ways the costly and risky route from Malawi to South Africa obstructs integration once migrants arrive in Johannesburg. The author is from Mangochi, Malawi and has lived in Johannesburg for several years.