A passage to Malta. The health and wellbeing of foreign children in Malta

Abstract

The first decades of the twenty first century are witnessing the transformation of Maltese society as it is increasingly becoming more socially, culturally and linguistically diverse. Recent years have been characterised by large migration flows, with both asylum seekers from North Africa, the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa, as well as thousands of economic migrants from the EU, Eastern Europe and East Asia amongst others. The number of foreign children in Malta has doubled over the last five scholastic years, constituting about 10% of the present school age population. These rapid developments bring both opportunities and challenges for foreign children and young people as they seek to settle down, make new friends and adapt to this major event in their lives. The aim of this study is to explore the physical and mental health and wellbeing of foreign children living in Malta, as well as their access to services, education and inclusion. More specifically it seeks to examine their physical and mental health, wellbeing and resilience, their access to services, their school engagement, their inclusion in Maltese communities, and what may help to create more accessible, inclusive and resilienceenhancing spaces for foreign children living in Malta. The study also explores children’s subjective wellbeing, seeking to capture their voices on their lives as children in Malta, including areas like family, locality, school, friends, economic wellbeing, leisure time, and social inclusion. Another objective of the study is to examine the attitudes of Maltese children themselves towards foreign children living in Malta, including openness and tolerance towards interculturalism and diversity.