Description
This brief exposes a series of interviews of 170 migrant children performed by UNICEF. They detail their experiences with education, housing policies, and emotional wellbeing in their home and host countries, as well as their journey. Salient points include the loss of protection brought by familiar structures such as family, as well as insecurity due to housing and legal procedures. The brief then provides policy recommendations; firstly, children’s policy recommendations (an invaluable look within the Belgian asylum and integration procedures) and finally UNICEF’s recommendations based on the data collected. Children’s recommendations include clear procedure instructions, ending age tests, tailoring their education to their needs (smaller classes, more contact with Belgian children) and favouring family reunification. UNICEF recommendations include an end to children’s detention, family unification and a clear commitment to centering children’s voices in the process.
- Access to compulsory education
- Children complete compulsory education
- Children remain in (formal) education beyond compulsory levels / Access to (formal) non-compulsory education
- Children's academic skills
- Children's legal status
- Children's life satisfaction / happiness
- Children's sense of belonging
- Friends and peers (bridges)
- Friends and peers (support)
- Institutions
- Teachers
- Types & levels of (formal) non-compulsory education attended
