Examines how Eritrean youth coped with the traumas of war and exile and recommends psychological programs to support youth during repatriation. The study involved open-ended, qualitative interviews with 33 13- to 20-year olds who had repatriated from Sudan. Participants reported that during the war in Eritrea, the most traumatic events were associated with active conflict; when they fled to Sudan, their greatest fear was being caught. In exile, political persecution and lack of food were particularly traumatic. After repatriation, loss of family added to their psychological discomfort. Among the coping strategies the youth employed were: vigilance (pre-flight), constructive planning and action (flight to Sudan), and self-control and determination (exile). While the strategies did not eliminate a sense of powerlessness or shame, positive role models (especially parents) were sources of support for the youth. Recommendations for facilitating repatriation include: counseling and organized recreational activities for youth; monetary assistance to poor families; continuing education and job-skills promotion; and participation in economic development and community-building. These recommendations suggest programmatic interventions that can be developed to support other exiled youth returning to their homeland. (48 references)
