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From Helpless Rage to Loving Resistance: Resistance to Othering and Practices of Agency in Mentoring Children of Asylum Seekers in Israel

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Abstract

Background

Children of African asylum seekers are a growing population in the Western world. Many of them who live in extreme social exclusion experience social alienation and powerlessness. Based on the assumption that the unique relationships between mentors and mentees can increase well-being, more in depth data on the perspectives of the practical work strategies of the volunteers themselves would be useful to understand their actions and underlying principles of actions in mentoring children of asylum seekers.

Objective

To explore the experiences and strategies employed by nonprofessional volunteers who mentor children of asylum seekers.

Method

In-depth semi-structured interviews with 19 volunteers who mentor children (age range 6–12) of African asylum seekers in Israel were conducted. A thematic analysis based on grounded theory approach was employed.

Results

Based on the volunteers’ perceptions, the data suggest a four-level process of strategies aimed at resistance to othering and the development of a sense of personal agency through mentoring.

Conclusions

The perceptions of volunteers who work with the children of asylum seekers suggest they use strategies that seek to increase the children’s sense of belonging and agency and to provide them with the unconditional support they usually do not receive elsewhere. The findings suggest that volunteers may help create an agency-promoting environment to help asylum seeker children cope with their distress. Studies using controlled designs might examine the effects of volunteers by developing guidelines and action principles as a basis for fostering standardized training for volunteers who work with children in extreme social exclusion.

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Availability of data and material

The datasets used and/or analyzed for this study are available from the corresponding author.

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Funding

The research leading to these results received funding from the Yesreel Valley Research Committee.

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  1. Department of Criminology, Yezreel Valley Academic College, Po. Box 1930000, Yezreel Valey, Israel

    Gila Amitay

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  1. Gila Amitay
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The author designed the research tools, collected the data and analysed it. She also is the sole writer of the manuscript. A professional editor assisted in editing the text. Data was collected in Israel.

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Correspondence to Gila Amitay.

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Amitay, G. From Helpless Rage to Loving Resistance: Resistance to Othering and Practices of Agency in Mentoring Children of Asylum Seekers in Israel. Child Youth Care Forum 51, 705–727 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10566-021-09649-7

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