Arriving in limbo : the experience of refugee integration

Abstract

Throughout the years refugees have been considered as displaced and homeless people, deprived from policies concerning them, especially strategies for integration. This situation causes considerable difficulty in the process of their settlement and as a result difficulty in the process of integration. This study explores the experience of integration of asylum seekers who have been granted humanitarian protection and refugee status. The research question which guided this study was 'What is the experience of integration of adult refugees in Malta?' The notion of integration is very complex to define therefore this study seeks to bring out factors leading to integration which are employment, retention of own culture, self-identity, reduction of negative stereotypes, discrimination, participation in the host society, sense of belonging and family. This was sought through in-depth interviews with five refugees and five professionals working in the area of refugees. The major finding of this study is that refugees feel the need to be settled so as to be able to move on to the process of integration. Integration in Malta is still on the level of basic survival. It is also clear that most refugees want to re-settle in another country, for various reasons such as family-reunification, more prosperity, more opportunities, more tolerance and more freedom of movement. Findings from this study suggest that it is perhaps more beneficial to adopt alternative models of integration more suited to the situation where Malta is simply one step on the way to settlement and not the final place. Integration in Malta may be limited to helping refugees adapt to a different culture in preparation for their settlement. As a Maltese society so much more needs to be done to reach a level of integration. If one considers that integration is a two way process then one must examine whether the fact that refugees want to resettle elsewhere hinders integration no matter what is done on the part of the host society. On the other hand, one must also examine whether if integration grows in the host society than perhaps refugees would consider Malta as their country of settlement.