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Exploring belonging: Experiences of refugee children and families in Camp Cosmos (2019)

Posted on:
August 12, 2021

What is this research about?

This research describes the experiences of refugee children campers, parents and staff who were part of Camp Cosmos in the summer of 2018, highlighting their perspectives on the Camp’s strengths and key benefits as well as areas of improvement.

What did the researchers find?

Researchers wrote: "There is very limited research on the sense of belonging held by refugee children and parents in early childhood educational and recreational settings. Assessments of integration often center on financial independence and access to rights and services. Sustainable integration, however, is much broader than economic participation; long-term integration consists of social, economic, cultural, and political participation in the host country while maintaining a relationship with the country of origin. For refugee children, participation in new educational contexts like Camp Cosmos typically creates a greater sense of belonging, which has been associated with lower depression and higher self-efficacy."

Findings included:

  • The study found that by participating in a recreational setting such as a summer camp, children and their families can: make friends and learn social skills; learn about social norms and Canadian culture; share cultural concepts, learn about resources and support each other; gain a greater sense of belonging and feeling at home in a new city; interact with older children and staff who they identify with and admire; practice new language skills; and learn and grow in a positive, culturally supportive environment.
  • Campers, parents and staff reported positive experiences and appreciated their time at camp. All campers indicated they would return to camp in the future with some wanting to take on other responsibilities such as group leader and volunteer.
  • Several campers mentioned that they were introduced to new places and activities in the city that they later shared with their families, such as the use of public transportation. Campers reported that this made Montreal feel like home.
  • All children reported having made new and supportive friends there that they have maintained after camp, mostly through social media. Many campers reported an improvement in their English and/or French language skills.
  • Campers and their parents reported positive personality changes after attending the camp. These included improvements in time management, increased positivity and participation, and increased responsibility, organization and respect.
  • Staff played an essential role in the community building at Camp Cosmos. Campers developed trust-based relationships with the counselors and described them as friends, brothers and sisters, or role models.
  • Overall, results suggest that camp plays an important role in the social integration of newly arrived families in Montreal.

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Summary

This research describes the experiences of campers, parents and staff who were part of Camp Cosmos in the summer of 2018, highlighting their perspectives on the Camp’s strengths and key benefits as well as areas of improvement.
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