“This study aims to bridge the theoretical and applied divide which is common to much of the research directed at children and adolescents. It is built upon the earlier ground-breaking and innovative study of children and adolescents in Palestinian households in the Middle East. Using a similar participatory research approach and querying the same basic Western assumptions, it examines the ways children and adolescents in Sahrawi refugee households in Algeria and other parts of North Africa as well as in Afghan refugee families in Iran live with the effects of prolonged conflict and forced migration. The primary objectives of the research are two-fold: to contribute to a better understanding of child and adolescent development which moves beyond the Western model elaborated by developmental psychology; and to provide local, regional, and international NGOs and IGOs, and national governments with a more nuanced appreciation of the effects of prolonged conflict and forced migration on children and adolescents and their caregivers. The project integrates an organic research design with a practical agenda to improve delivery, policy, and programmes to help practitioners to provide better services. Local practitioners and researchers were integrated into the research programme by first identifying current policies and practices. These were then taken into account in designing a participatory research methodology intended to be implemented by local and international researchers. It should result in improved project, policy and programming delivery, as well as transferable lessons learned and good practice guide for refugee children and adolescents.” – Publisher’s description CONTENTS Abstract and Overall Conclusions Aims and Organisation of the Research Understanding Children and Childhoods: Current Research Practices Research Settings Methodology Common Themes: Refugee Youth in the Middle East and North Africa Methods and Ethics of Research with Refugee Children and Youth Summary of Workshop Conclusions Overall Conclusions: Refugee Youth in Prolonged Forced Migration Acknowledgements References Cited Notes
