New network to improve child refugee experiences - conference aim

Second World War evacuation scheme in Italy - children from Naples on a train taking them to Emilia Romagna © Archivio UDI Bo

Experts hope to establish a new research network to improve the experiences of child refugees at a conference in Aberystwyth later this month.

Organised by the Centre for the Movement of People at Aberystwyth University, the two-day event will bring together researchers and practitioners from all over the UK with an interest in the migration of children and young people. 

The challenges and benefits of comparing the past and present experiences of child refugees and the role of storytelling in coming to terms with forced migration will be discussed at the academic gathering.

Researchers will also consider the experiences of WWII refugees and what can be learnt from them, and the struggles of modern day sanctuary-seeking children and young people.

Conference co-organiser Andrea Hammel, Professor of German and Director of the Centre for the Movement of People at Aberystwyth University, said:

“One of the aims of this conference is to bring together academics and those working for NGOs such as the Welsh Refugee Council and British Future to discuss ways we can shift the way we talk about child refugees in the UK and internationally and find new ways forward.”

Academics from the Centre for the Movement of People at Aberystwyth University, along with experts from Nottingham Trent University, University of Reading, Université Paris 1-Panthéon-Sorbonne, University of Birmingham, the Welsh Refugee Council and British Future will speak at the event.

One of the conference organisers, Dr Elena Anna Spagnuolo from Aberystwyth University, added:

“Over the last century, child evacuation initiatives have happened all over the world, for instance in Spain, Italy, and the UK. The connection between these initiatives and the experiences of child refugees today is evident.

“Whilst these initiatives have to be investigated against their specific socio-cultural and political contexts, several similarities and common patterns can be identified. These can constitute a starting point for a fruitful collaboration between researchers working in different countries, with the aim of supporting and assisting child refugees.”

‘Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: Narrating Stories of Child Evacuees and Refugees, Rethinking Reception Policies and Practices’ takes place on 19-20 September.

Full details including registration are available online: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/yesterday-today-tomorrow-narrating-stories-of-child-evacuees-and-refugee-tickets-1002883981987

The conference is open to all, and will be of particular interest to researchers, PhD students and practitioners interested in the experiences of children on the move.

The event is organised by Aberystwyth University and supported by the Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies, School of Advanced Studies, University of London.

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