The widespread diffusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and its integration in our day-to-day activities, has transformed our societies in different ways (Cachia, 2007).  The potential and current application of technology devices and computing applications for improving peoples’ quality life has become an important area of study for different think tanks; and subject of constant regulation and policies by governments and multilateral organizations. Thus, Benton and Glennie (2016) and Cachia et al. (2007) stress on the necessity of conducting studies on the performance of computing applications for improving people`s quality life, and for facilitating integration and inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers, in order to assess the use of ICT technologies for tackling social issues.  Due to the lack of studies oriented to assess the performance and impact of social computing applications on the integration processes of refugees in Europe; and the current importance of ICT platforms for addressing social issues, this research is designed for contributing on the debate upon the viability of implementing ICT solutions seeking to support integration processes in the region of kronoberg in Sweden.  The gap identified in the literature upon Information and Communication Technologies for Refugees (ICT4R) and social computing applications for integration, represent an opportunity for contributing with a deeper understanding about the viability and effectivity of these ICT solutions for supporting the integration process of refuges and asylum seekers in Europe. Hence, one of the most important experiences is currently implemented in Sweden, where the Migration Agency and Refugee Tech; “a non-profit organization that works to help new arrivals to orientate themselves in Swedish society” (Swedish Migration Agency, 2016), have jointed efforts to support and to give visibility to all computing applications designed for helping refugees and asylum seekers in the country.

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This study utilized a phenomenological approach to describe the experience of displaced individuals and families in a condition of statelessness in a refugee camp and their experiences prelight, translight, and postlight. Topics addressed included the conditions that led to flight from the country of origin and the individual and family experiences in the country of origin prior to flight and during flight, the experiences of living as a refugee in a refugee camp in Greece, and the hopes and dreams of the future for the individual and the family. Fourteen individuals, including five children in seven families were interviewed in the study. Four of the seven families in the research included multiple members of the immediate family. Data analysis followed Moustakas’ (1994) traditional phenomenological technique. Results indicated turmoil in the country of origin was the primary reason for flight. All nine adult refugees indicated some type of danger or unrest necessitating flight from their country of origin. Two families were forced from their country of origin based on ethnicity. Results also indicated that separation of immediate family members was a common experience among refugee families. Six of the seven families reported separation, for various reasons, from immediate family members during the time of this study. Those separated expressed a desire to remain in close contact by any means possible with family members; this was critical for survival, according to those interviewed. Although there were some negative expressions of life as a refugee, such as the difficulty in understanding asylum processes, boredom and a lack of purpose, and a lack of opportunity for education and skills training in the camp, the overall reflections were positive, sharing hopefulness for a better future.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston University / Since 1979 thousands of Southeast Asians have sought resettlement in the United States. The cultural framework of these people is evidenced in their health belief system. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten Khmer refugees in order to elicit their beliefs about the causes of symptoms they have experienced. It was found chat both natural and supernatural causes were attributed to their illness. The concept of k'chall, bad air in the body, vas very important in the health belief systems of the Khmer respondents.

For the past 10 years, thousands of refugees from Central African Republic (CAR) have crossed into Cameroon and settled in villages along the border.  Refugee influxes can produce ecological and social challenges to host communities.  While conflict is often a result, there is also an opportunity for collaboration and successful integration.  Agroforestry, the intentional incorporation and management of trees in agricultural systems, provides a tool that can respond to both social and ecological challenges by providing conservation farming techniques and increasing diversified home production of many needed products.  This research sought to understand the needs of community members for specific practices as well as preferences for social implementation of practices, using a frame of identity to help inform on integration and collaboration potential in agricultural projects.   The participatory research collected demographic data, employed a 20 point oral questionnaire, and utilized illustrated visual ranking and storytelling tools to gather information on 8 agroforestry practice and implementation preferences, identity, and social arrangement preferences among community members.  Agroforestry practices were divided between product-oriented and service-oriented practices.  We collected data from 122 individual interviews evenly divided between men and women, and CAR refugees and host community Cameroonians.   Results show that there are significant differences in agroforestry practice and implementation preferences across the sample, and between refugees and Cameroonians.  Most people felt that refugees and Cameroonians had similar traditions and needs, and that most areas of life should be integrated, however agriculture was an area that the people were more hesitant about mixing, demonstrating that arrangements and implementation of agricultural projects should be carefully designed and executed.  Those who preferred mixing of refugees and Cameroonians in fieldwork included members of all demographic groups, signifying the potential for integrated collaboration on community agricultural projects.  Results demonstrate that agroforestry projects have the potential to provide important valued resources to communities, create an opportunity for knowledge transfer and improved agricultural systems, and be the scene for positive contact between refugees and Cameroonians, leading to successful integration. / Master of Science

The Dallas-Forth Worth Metroplex (DFW) serves as a diverse resettlement location for globally displaced refugees. While research examines how the nation impacts refugee resettlement, studies that examine the role of the city and community in placemaking are still lacking. In city resettlement investigations, research often focuses broadly on advocacy and political movements rather than the impacts of local-level structures and policies. In this paper, I develop an evaluation model using Jenny Phillimore's categories for successful refugee resettlement that examines how structural barriers, community interactions, and resource accessibility affect space and place for refugee populations. Through an ethnography of Chin and Rohingya refugee communities in DFW, I explore the differences between community-settled and state-settled refugee groups and the idea of an integrated resettlement program. Additionally, I argue that refugees who choose their settlement location in the United States are empowered and thus have a stronger connection to their host community than state-settled refugees. For example, in interviews, the Chin emphasized their ownership of Lewisville and feelings of home, while the Rohingya expressed feelings of placelessness and dispossession in Dallas. As governments push towards an entirely privatized system of refugee resettlement, this research argues for an integrated method that draws upon federal resources and community connections. Through the experiences of Lewisville's Chin community, this research demonstrates the potential of such a program in the United States.

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Newspapers importantly shape our constructed realities. Based on this assumption, I analysed if and how (Syrian) refugees were represented on 1180 front pages of European newspapers in the period June – October 2015. There were significant differences among the various newspapers in their selection of articles, their pictures and their perspectives. I explained these differences by looking in which country a newspaper was published and whether it was a sensationalist or serious newspapers. Most attention was paid, however, on visual themes that were common to all of them. My research was informed by Grounded Theory and I used other theories from media and communication studies and Communication for Development (ComDev) for the analysis. I related my findings about the reporting on refugees to previous discussions on NGO reporting. I argued that, even though both NGOs and newspapers report about similar issues, there has been a surprising lack of reflection on representations in newspapers. Furthermore, the discussions that emerged in the ComDev-discourse did not seem to have affected newspapers much. Given that newspapers potentially influence many more people, I sought to connect ComDev-discussions to traditional media, which might be a starting point for a more ethic journalism.