In the last two decades, we have witnessed dramatic changes in the demographic composition of Aotearoa. Now, 1 in every 4 residents was born overseas. As a result, the society looks very different today than it did three decades ago and as ethnic migrant, refugee, and religious communities continue to grow, their ethnicities, cultures and beliefs bring a multicultural layer to the existing bi-cultural legal framework under the Treaty of Waitangi.
While this situation brings many opportunities for inter- and intra-group contact, understanding and relationships, it also brings challenges, particularly for the children of first and second generation ethnic migrants and former refugees. These young people are often referred to as ‘living in two worlds’: that of their parents’ original culture and the world of their country of settlement: Aotearoa, New Zealand. These young people exhibit many strengths such as multilingualism, adaptability and resilience, but they also struggle to meet parental or community expectations of them, while also attempting to integrate into their host society and fit in with their friends.
This phenomenon also occurs in other third-country resettlement settings. It can affect young people’s sense of belonging, ability to access and exercise their resident or citizenship rights, and overall feelings of safety and empowerment. Additionally, there are often misunderstandings within the host society about their experiences, which often give rise to negative judgments, discrimination, or even worse consequences.
In response to this situation, we have decided to facilitate an open conversation between young people from refugee-backgrounds and postgraduate students interested in forced migration and refugee resettlement.
We hope the panel discussion and breaking bread will create a safe space where speakers can openly share their experiences of navigating two (and in some cases three) worlds and be listened to with empathy. By encouraging the speakers to be real about their experiences, we are seeking depth over breadth, thereby allowing them to share their stories fully and with nuance. The structured Q&A and small group discussions will provide Victoria University of Wellington postgraduate students with an intimate and engaging learning environment, while the informal conversations over the meal may foster deeper connections, inspire future collaborations, and nurture lasting friendships.