Youth mobilities of unaccompanied minors in border regions

Research Focus and Methodology 

Maha's research examines the experiences of North African unaccompanied minors (NAUM) in the Netherlands, with a focus on their mobilities. Her dissertation comprises three articles that shed light on distinct aspects of this subject. The first article delves into the temporal experiences of these minors, dissecting the tensions between waiting and excessive mobility and elucidating how these temporalities shape the youths' experiences. The second article delves into the complexities of the asylum system and the challenges faced by caregivers. It underscores caregiving practices and the implementation of policies, revealing caregivers’ efforts into creating personalized care approaches. The third article takes a youth-centric perspective on care, elucidating how NAUM perceive and receive care within the system, while also exploring the reasons why existing care fails to meet their needs. Maha's research is grounded in 16 months of fieldwork, involving 22 NAUM and 50 professionals from various care institutions. In addition to observation, interviews and active participation, she was able to gain deep insight into their lives and build trust by spending extended periods hanging out with these youths.
 

Relation to Borders 

Borders are inherent in Maha’s research. Initially, they manifest as international boundaries when studying North African Unaccompanied Minors (NAUM) who have crossed them. Yet, the fieldwork progression unveiled subtler borders. The divide between the researcher and the participants, marked by differences in education, origin, city, and dialect, required special attention to overcome. Additionally, cultural and linguistic borders further complicate matters between minors and Dutch society, including caregivers, hindering communication and understanding of codes and cultural significance. In this intricate web of borders, Maha’s research unravels the complex dynamics at play. 
 

Findings and Takeaways 

The rich data collected in Maha’s research reveal a nuanced reality amplified by the inherent diversity within the youth group she studies. These youth encompass a wide spectrum of backgrounds and their motives for moving to the Netherlands are equally diverse. Despite the commendable efforts of dedicated professionals within care institutions, the care provided to these youth appears inadequate. Professionals grapple with tools ill-suited for the needs of the youth, and the youth often perceive that their caregivers fail to truly understand what is needed. Consequently, their time under the care system becomes a cycle of waiting and frantic attempts at mobility to escape this limbo. Both experiences of waiting and mobility result in the accumulation of traumatic scars, both psychological and physical, among these vulnerable youth.
 

Researcher: Maha Naami (see profile)

Supervisors: Valentina Mazzucato, Katie Kuschminder, Janniek van de Looij (see profiles)