Impact Analysis of Two Newly Introduced Services Designed to Support Minors among Migrants and Refugees06Mar2018
Public Policy Research Centre was commissioned by the Center for Research and Development of the Society IDEAS to conduct an impact analysis of two newly introduced services to support minors among migrants and refugees - the so-called temporary guardians and cultural mediators. IDEAS piloted those two within the framework of a project "Strengthening child protection and the inclusion of refugee children in Serbia".
The analysis of guardianship of minors among migrants and refugees without parental custody in Serbia points out that the provision of guardianship services provide children with what they value most - a possibility to have a person who takes care about them, whom they trust, and with whom they feel closeness. Interestingly the children value more trust and the sense of psychological and emotional support more than concrete deeds such as education assistance. Therefore, guardians should continue to invest most of their time in building such relationships with the children. However, a segment in which guardians can improve their work is related to an initial interview with children as it may be confusing to them due to cultural differences. In that sense, one of the recommendations reads to shorten the interview and to avoid sensitive issues for children during the very first interview.
Cultural mediation has been hesitantly introduced to centers for migrants (transit and collective ones), mainly with the help of international organizations and the non-governmental sector. Out of all services that deal with migrants, this one is the "most delicate". Although children do not think about staying in Serbia and participating in society, the importance of efforts to establish this service must not be voided because "long-term proneness to self-isolation is detrimental to the well-being, future and the development of minors' talents." More detailed findings laid out by the CENTER will be available in a report "Serbia: Cultural mediation and migrant children".
During this project, the CENTER has relied on its previous experience gained throughout the implementation of a three-year-long project devoted to exploring anti-discriminatory and inclusive national and local policies and practices aimed at contributing to the full enjoyment of the basic rights of migrants and strengthening migrants'/refugees' participation in the social life of local communities.