A qualitative study into the reintegration of vulnerable migrant children and families after return to Kosovo: Findings from a follow-up

• Published in: Children and youth services review 2021-06, Vol.125, p.105991, Article 105991
• Main Authors: Zevulun, Daniëlle, Elianne Zijlstra, A., Post, Wendy J., Knorth, Erik J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Asylum-seeker children; Children; Children & youth; Childrens rights; Dropping out; Economic problems; Families & family life; Family stability; Health problems; Housing; Kosovo; Living conditions; Migrants; Peers; Qualitative research; Quality of life; Reintegration; Repatriation; Return migration; Safeguards; School dropouts; Vulnerability; Well being
• ISSN: 0190-7409; 1873-7765
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2021.105991

•Problems after return: economic and housing problems, lack of supportive networks.•After a longer period of return the experienced difficulties of children consists.•Small scale support after return does not meet the needs of vulnerable children. Vulnerable children’s experiences after (forced) return are understudied. Compared with the situation of adults, child-specific safeguards are necessary for their reintegration. The study aims to gain insight into the reintegration and support experiences of vulnerable returnee children after a short and medium term of return in Kosovo. This study has a qualitative design and a thematic analysis was conducted. Thirteen children in nine families, who were part of an earlier support project, were interviewed three years later. All families still faced economic or housing problems after a longer period of return. Some families faced some more stability in living conditions. About half of the children had multiple reintegration-related difficulties (i.e., health problems, no connection with Kosovo, safety issues, poor well-being of parents, school drop-out, living isolated, difficult contacts with peers or society). The small-scale support that the children had received was not sufficient to alleviate their problems. A children’s rights view could help identify the necessary support and care for returnee children, to enhance their sustainable reintegration and quality of life.