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Why Do Immigrants and Refugees Give Back to Their Communities and What can We Learn from Their Civic Engagement?

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Abstract

Each year thousands of immigrants and refugees begin their lives in new places, speaking new languages, and facing new challenges. Challenges include access to health/mental care, education, transportation, and employment. Researchers and practitioners frequently focus on challenges of newcomers and their deficits in meeting needs for self-sufficiency. This study explores newcomers’ giving back and emphasizes an untapped reservoir of strength and capacity. Based on qualitative semi-structured interviews with 54 immigrants and refugees, themes identified include (1) a desire to maintain ethnic identity and connection; (2) ethnic community as an extension of family; (3) a sense of duty and obligation; and (4) measure of achieved success. Researchers and practitioners should shift their view to recognize the strengths and capacities of newcomers who give back to their communities.

Résumé

Chaque année, des milliers d’immigrants et de réfugiés commencent leur vie dans de nouveaux lieux, parlent de nouvelles langues et font face à de nouveaux défis. Les défis incluent l’accès aux soins de santé et aux soins psychiatriques, l’éducation, le transport et l’emploi. Les chercheurs et les professionnels se concentrent souvent sur les défis des nouveaux arrivants et leurs difficultés à répondre au besoin d’être autosuffisants. Cette étude explore le service à la collectivité des nouveaux arrivants et souligne le réservoir inexploité des forces et des capacités. À partir d’entretiens qualitatifs semi-structurés avec 54 immigrants et réfugiés, les thèmes identifiés incluent (1) le désir de maintenir une identité et un lien ethniques; (2) la communauté ethnique en tant que prolongement de la famille; (3) le sens du devoir et de l’obligation; et (4) la mesure de la réussite atteinte. Les chercheurs et les professionnels devraient modifier leur position pour reconnaître les forces et les capacités des nouveaux arrivants qui rendent quelque chose à leur communauté.

Zusammenfassung

Jedes Jahr beginnen Tausende von Einwanderern und Flüchtlingen ein Leben an neuen Orten, sprechen neue Sprachen und werden mit neuen Problemen konfrontiert. Zu den Problemen zählt der Zugang zur medizinischen/psychologischen Versorgung, zu Bildung, Transport und Beschäftigung. Forscher und Praktiker konzentrieren sich häufig auf die Probleme der Neuankömmlinge und ihre Defizite bei der Selbstversorgung. Diese Studie untersucht die Gegenleistungen der Neuankömmlinge und hebt ein nicht genutztes Kräfte- und Kapazitätsreservoir hervor. Beruhend auf qualitativen semi-strukturierten Befragungen von 54 Einwanderern und Flüchtlingen wurden folgende Themen angesprochen: (1) der Wunsch, die ethnische Identität und Verbindung zu wahren; (2) die ethnische Gemeinschaft als eine Erweiterung der Familie; (3) ein Pflichtgefühl und (4) die Messung des erzielten Erfolgs. Forscher und Praktiker sollten ihre Sichtweise ändern, um die Stärken und Kapazitäten von Neuankömmlingen zu erkennen, die an ihre Gemeinschaften zurückgeben.

Resumen

Cada año, miles de inmigrantes y refugiados comienzan sus vidas en nuevos lugares, hablando nuevos idiomas, y enfrentándose a nuevos desafíos. Los desafíos incluyen el acceso a la atención sanitaria/mental, a la educación, al transporte y al empleo. Los investigadores y profesionales se centran frecuentemente en los desafíos de los recién llegados y en su déficit para satisfacer las necesidades de autosuficiencia. El presente estudio explora la restitución por parte de los recién llegados y hace hincapié en la reserva de fortaleza y capacidad sin explotar. Basándose en entrevistas semiestructuradas cualitativas con 54 inmigrantes y refugiados, los temas identificados incluyen (1) un deseo de mantener la identidad étnica y la conexión; (2) la comunidad étnica como una extensión de la familia; (3) un sentido del deber y de la obligación; y (4) la medición del éxito logrado. Los investigadores y profesionales deben cambiar su punto de vista y reconocer las fortalezas y capacidades que los recién llegados restituyen a sus comunidades.

Chinese

每年都有成千上万的移民和难民在新的地方开始新的生活,讲新的语言,面对新的挑战,包括享受医疗/精神护理、接受教育、使用交通和参与就业。 研究人员和从业人员的关注点经常放在新来人员的挑战以及无法满足实现自足的需要上。 本研究探讨新来人员的回报, 强调他们尚未利用的力量和能力, 在研究中,和54名移民和难民进行了定性半结构化访谈,访谈的主题包括(1)希望保持种族身份和联系; (2)种族社区作为家庭的延伸; (3)责任感和义务感; (4)衡量取得的成功,按照访谈,研究人员和从业人员应将他们的观点转移到那些愿意向社区回报的新来人员的优势和能力上。

Arabic

كل عام آلاف من المهاجرين واللاجئين تبدأ حياتهم في أماكن جديدة، يتكلمون لغات جديدة، ويواجهون تحديات جديدة. وتشمل التحديات الحصول على الخدمات الصحية/الرعاية النفسية والتعليم والنقل والتوظيف. الباحثين والممارسين في كثير من الأحيان تركز على التحديات التي تواجه القادمين الجدد والعجز في تلبية الإحتياجات لتحقيق الاكتفاء الذاتي. تكتشف هذه الدراسة القادمين الجدد محاولة رد الجميل وتؤكد رصيدا” غير مستغل من قوة وقدرة. إستنادا” على مقابلات شبه منظمة النوعية مع 54 من المهاجرين واللاجئين والموضوعات التي تم تحديدها وتشمل (1) الرغبة في الحفاظ على الهوية العرقية والإتصال. (2) المجتمع العرقي إمتدادا” للعائلة. (3) الشعور بالواجب والإلتزام؛ و (4) قياس النجاح الذي تحقق.يجب على الباحثين والممارسين أن يحولوا وجهة نظرهم على التعرف على نقاط القوة والقدرات من القادمين الجدد الذين يعطون لمجتمعاتهم.

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Acknowledgments

The author is grateful for the support and guidance of Drs. Mary Katherine O’Connor and Pam Kovacs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, Anthropology, & Social Work, University of North Florida, 1 UNF Drive, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA

    Suzie S. Weng

  2. Department of Social Work, University of North Carolina Greensboro, P.O. Box 26170, Greensboro, NC, 27402, USA

    Justin S. Lee

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Correspondence to Suzie S. Weng.

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Weng, S.S., Lee, J.S. Why Do Immigrants and Refugees Give Back to Their Communities and What can We Learn from Their Civic Engagement?. Voluntas 27, 509–524 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11266-015-9636-5

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