Youth Resources

 

These are some of the resources we have found useful in our work with refugee-background young people.

 

Refugees – The Basics

Fact Sheet: Refugees in Aotearoa New Zealand

A Global Education Centre fact sheet on what it means to be a refugee in Aotearoa New Zealand – how does a refugee get here, what happens when they arrive, what's resettlement like?

Global Education Centre, 2008, www.globalfocus.org.nz

Fact Sheet: Refugees

A Global Education Centre fact sheet with general facts about refugees around the world – what does the word 'refugee' mean, how do you become one and what does it mean to be a refugee?

Global Education Centre, 2006, www.globalfocus.org.nz

 

Schools and Education

The Refugee Handbook for Schools

A Ministry of Education guide for New Zealand schools and teachers supporting refugee-background students, with information on their social, emotional and educational needs. It's divided into five sections – being prepared for the student's arrival, enrolment, teaching, managing at-risk students, and planning transitions from school.

Ministry of Education, 2003, www.minedu.govt.nz

Families Learning Together

A Ministry of Education booklet for non-English speaking background families on the New Zealand school system and how to support your child's learning at home. Also available in Arabic, Somali, Amharic, Farsi, Khmer, Chinese, Korean and Hindi.

Ministry of Education, 2002, www.minedu.govt.nz

English for Speakers of Other Languages resources (Ministry of Education)

Ministry of Education's resource page for teachers and other educators working with learners using English as a second language. Includes information on what and how to get financial resources to support your ESOL learners at school; and multilingual school forms and notices including Burmese, Farsi and Vietnamese.

Ministry of Education, www.minedu.govt.nz

 

Working with Refugee-Background Youth

Involving Migrant and Refugee Young People in Social and Recreational Activities

This information sheet assists those running events and activities for migrant and refugee young people by providing useful strategies and tips for facilitating involvement.

Centre for Multicultural Youth, Australia, 2004, www.cmy.net.au

Creating Successful Programs for Immigrant Youth

A short, four-page good practice guide to creating successful programmes for migrant youth. Authored by Voices for Change: Immigrant Women & State Policy and published in prACTice matters.

The Upstate Center of Excellence, New York, 2004, www.actforyouth.net

Multilingual Parent Consent Forms

Generic consent form which can be adapted for youth workers seeking to get parental permission for young people to be involved in activities. PDFs available in Amharic, Arabic, Assyrian, Bosnian, Cambodian (Khmer), Chinese, Dari, English, Pashtu, Samoan, Serbian, Somali, Tigrinya, Turkish and Vietnamese.

Centre for Multicultural Youth, Australia, 2004, www.cmy.net.au

Rewriting The Rules for Youth Participation: Inclusion and diversity in government and community decision making

A research report which looks at how Australian government and community organisations currently involve young people in decision-making processes, including suggested strategies on how to engage them meaningfully.

Commissioned by The National Youth Affairs Research Scheme (NYARS), research by Johanna Bell, Ariadne Vromen and Phillippa Collin, 2008, www.dest.gov.au

Considering consulting? A guide to meaningful consultation with young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds

Consultation is a tool regularly used by government and non-government agencies to gain an insight into the views and opinions of the whole or specific segments of the community. Many of those who wish to consult with young people acknowledge that they lack the knowledge and confidence to engage appropriately with young people from diverse backgrounds. CMYI has developed this publication as a simple tool to guide the process.

Centre for Multicultural Youth, Australia, 2007, www.cmy.net.au

 

Health

Engaging refugee and migrant young people around mental health: Exploring strategies that work 

A report from the Australian Statewide Multicultural Youth Issues Network Meeting (SMYIN) which explores what is and isn't working for young people from refugee-backgrounds experiencing mental health issues.

Rights

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

A summary from UNICEF on the international rights on the child – a convention signed by every country in the world except United States of America and Somalia.

UNICEF, www.unicef.org.uk/youthvoice/

 

Youth Projects We Like

Mixit (Auckland, New Zealand)

Mixit is a weekly project based in Auckland, where youth from refugee backgrounds, migrants and the local community come together to increase skills, confidence, meet new people and establish ongoing networks. It’s a contemporary arts project led by a multicultural team of choreographers, theatre directors, musicians, visual artists and community facilitators. www.mixit.co.nz

Voice It: Carrying the voice of young people from Wellington’s Refugee Communities  (Wellington, New Zealand)

A community education resource produced by Voice Arts Trust, which includes a 2008 World Refugee Day radio broadcast, original creative material from and interviews with refugee-background youth.

Voice Arts Trust, 2008, www.voice-arts.org.nz

Refugee Youth (UK)

Refugee Youth is a community of young people from around the world, and a network of youth groups working together across London. They are dedicated to breaking down isolation and combating alienation and despair amongst young refugees in London by supporting opportunities for their development. They do this by creating a community where youth can support each other and learn together. www.refugeeyouth.org.uk