This study aims to explore how four Syrians, involved as case managers in Questscope’s mentoring program, describe and experience their lives in Zaatari Refugee Camp. The participants were asked to describe their experiences through qualitative interviews. The results were analyzed through the lens of Antonovsky’s salutogenic theory to examine each participant’s sense of coherence and what activities or people contribute towards a strong SOC. The results show that the participants face many challenges in Zaatari Camp, most notably the feeling that their lives have been reduced to a simple existence in which they are expected to be content with food and shelter. They express the feeling that their hopes and aspirations have come to a standstill and that camp conditions do not allow them to move forward in their lives, such as by completing university. However, their stories also include indications of strong SOC in that the participants make sense of their situation, perceive that there are resources available to deal with their situation, and have incentive to persevere in spite of their circumstances. They describe their work with Questscope, through which they are encouraged to take initiative and responsibility, as helpful and motivating because it builds their confidence, gives them purpose and allows them to hope and move forward.

The continuous turmoil in some regions of the Middle East, including Syria and Iraq, has resulted in the displacement of millions of people, a big portion of those displaced people end up seeking refuge in neighboring countries, where often refugee camps are set up by multiple contributors for humanitarian causes. The infill form of planning that comes with an emergency situation such as war, does not optimize the individual, social and energy efficiency aspects of refugee camps. Looking at the various refugee camps around the world gives an insight on how to/ or not to design in relation to climatic conditions. Lessons learned can also be deducted from looking at established camps and social programs. The goal is to design a grouping of Green shelters that allows for individual wellbeing and social interaction alongside the rest of the basic human needs.

This diploma thesis deals with refugee situation in the Middle East countries. More attention is given to Jordan and Syria. Diploma thesis is divided into three parts. It is a theoretical, analytical and final part. The theoretical part deals with the introduction to the researched issue and the explanation of the basic terms that are associated with migration. It includes contemporary theories of migration, push and pull factors, return policy, the theory of geographical indicators, and the theory of quality of life. The analytical part analyzes the situation of the Middle East countries, then analyzes selected indicators of Jordan, Syria, Zaatari refugee camp and Rukban camp and then compares these indicators. Based on the previous analyzes, the final part includes suggestions of solutions that could lead to improvement in Jordan and Syria and in selected camps.

Abstract      Refugee children living in refugee camps are a vulnerable population at a high risk of developing mental health problems, behavioural issues, and being exposed to violence or trauma. However, not all children that experience these stressors of displacement develop negative outcomes. Some children adapt to the circumstances and build resilience against the challenges. Because the number of refugee children has risen, the importance of studying the subject and finding protective factors are critical. Therefore the aim of this study was to look into circumstances and interventions that promote mental well-being and resilience in refugee children in the context of a refugee camp, from a holistic perspective. Considering UN global goals the results of this study can be used in expanding resilience-building interventions in order to promote mental well-being around the world, particularly in developing countries.  A qualitative approach was taken through semi-structured interviews to gather data. Two participants working as practitioners in a resilience-building project in the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan were selected through a snowball selection. Through the theories of ecology of child development and the model of the seven Cs of resilience, this study identified resilience-building in several levels, including personal, family and community. Having knowledge about the strengths and development potential of oneself, close family relations, a supportive community and peer groups help children to  build resilience and overcome challenges. The study also found that in order to understand resilience-building in children a holistic approach is required. There are strong links between children, their families, their communities, and their psychosocial well-being. / Abstrakt  Flyktingbarn som bor i flyktingläger är en utsatt grupp som löper stor risk att utveckla psykiska störningar, beteendeproblem och utsättas för våld eller trauma. Trots alla stressorer med att vara flykting anpassar sig en del barn till omständigheterna och visar motståndskraft. Eftersom antalet flyktingbarn har ökat runt om i världen är vikten av att studera ämnet och hitta skyddsfaktorer som leder till motståndskraft avgörande för barnens välmående. Därför var syftet med denna studie att fokusera på omständigheter och interventioner som främjar flyktingbarns psykiska välbefinnande och motståndskraft i kontexten av ett flyktingläger, ur ett holistiskt perspektiv. Med tanke på FN:s globala mål kan resultaten av denna studie användas för att utöka motståndsbyggande interventioner för att främja mentalt välbefinnande hos barn runt om i världen, särskilt i utvecklingsländerna.  En kvalitativ metod genom semistrukturerade intervjuer användes för att samla in data. Två deltagare som arbetade i ett motståndsbyggande projekt (resilience-building project) i flyktinglägret Al-Zaatari i Jordanien valdes ut genom ett snöbollsurval. Genom teorierna om socialekologi för barnens utveckling och modellen sju C om motståndskraft identifierade denna studie att motståndsbyggande hos barn sker på flera nivåer, inklusive personlig, familj och i samhällsnivå. Att ha kunskap om sina styrkor och utvecklingspotentialer, att ha nära familjerelationer och stödjande samhällen och kamratgrupper hjälper barnen att bygga motståndskraft och övervinna utmaningar. Studien fann också att för att förstå motståndsbyggande hos barn krävs ett holistiskt förhållningssätt. Det finns starka kopplingar mellan barn, deras familjer och deras samhällen, och psykosocialt välbefinnande. För att hjälpa barn bygga motståndskraft är därför en dynamisk process nödvändig. / خلاصه کودکان پناهنده ای که در کمپ های پناهندگان زندگی می کنند، جمعیتی آسیب پذیر هستند که در معرض خطر بالای ابتلا به مشکلات سلامت روانی، مسائل رفتاری، و قرار گرفتن در معرض خشونت یا تروما قرار دارند. با این حال، همه کودکانی که این عوامل استرس زای جابجایی را تجربه می کنند، پیامدهای منفی ندارند. برخی از کودکان با شرایط سازگار می شوند و در برابر چالش ها انعطاف پذیری می کنند. از آنجا که تعداد کودکان پناهنده افزایش یافته است، اهمیت تحقیق کردن موضوع و یافتن عوامل محافظتی بسیار مهم است. بنابراین هدف این تحقیق بررسی شرایط و مداخلاتی بود که بهزیستی روانی و تاب‌آوری را در کودکان پناهنده در چارچوب یک اردوگاه پناهندگان، از منظر کل نگر ارتقا می‌دهد. با توجه به اهداف جهانی سازمان ملل، نتایج این مطالعه می‌تواند در گسترش مداخلات تاب‌آوری به  منظور ارتقای بهزیستی روانی در سراسر جهان به‌ ویژه در کشورهای در حال توسعه استفاده شود. برای جمع‌آوری داده‌ها، روش کیفی از طریق مصاحبه‌های نیمه ساختاریافته اتخاذ شده  است. دو شرکت کننده که به عنوان کارآموز در یک پروژه انعطاف پذیری در اردوگاه پناهندگان زعتری در اردن کار می کردند از طریق نمونه گیری گلوله برفی انتخاب شدند. این مطالعه از طریق تئوری‌های بوم‌شناسی رشد کودک و مدل هفت C تاب‌آوری، تاب‌آوری‌ سازی را در سطوح مختلفی از جمله فردی، خانوادگی و اجتماعی شناسایی کرده است .داشتن دانش در مورد نقاط قوت و محتمل رشد خود، روابط نزدیک خانوادگی، جامعه حامی و گروه های همسالان به کودکان کمک می کند تا تاب آوری را ایجاد کنند و بر چالش ها غلبه کنند. این تحقیق همچنین نشان داد که برای تاب‌آوری در کودکان به یک رویکرد جامع نگر نیاز است. پیوندهای محکمی بین کودکان، خانواده‌ها، جوامع و رفاه روانی اجتماعی آنها وجود دارد.

This study seeks to explore what conditions contribute to sexual violence against refugees in conflict-induced humanitarian settings by focusing particularly on whether the physical and social insecurity in refugee camps may affect the reported levels of sexual violence. This study uses the method of structured focused comparison to study and compare the two Jordanian refugee camps Zaatari and Azraq during the period of 2014–2019. In particular, this thesis argues that high physical and social insecurity in conflict-induced humanitarian settings will lead to higher levels of sexual violence against refugees. By borrowing from the literature on conflict-related sexual violence, this study seeks to contribute to the scarce literature on sexual violence in humanitarian settings and explore the possible links between the occurrence of and explanations for this violence. Albeit modestly, the main findings suggest that the hypothesis is supported as the levels of physical and social insecurity seem to correspond with the expected variation in levels of reported sexual violence. Nevertheless, data limitations and other challenges call for caution and future research is needed to establish a more profound basis for this phenomenon.