Rienstra, Birgitte (2024) Exploring volunteers' perspectives on integration processes of asylum seekers in rural areas. Bachelor thesis.
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Abstract
This research explores how citizen initiatives contribute to the integration process of asylum seekers. It takes the perspective of volunteers in citizen initiatives in rural villages in the municipality of Het Hogeland. Literature on cultural-religious aspects of integration, particularly the development of social networks and relationships which highlighted a two-way integration process. However, studies on volunteers' experiences are limited, making this research a valuable contribution to current research. Semi-structured interviews with volunteers near asylum seeker centers (AZC) in Winsum and Uithuizen were conducted to explore integration experiences. Main findings in this study were that the rural setting did not significantly impact integration opportunities. Further, social contact and purposeful activities support asylum seekers' sense of belonging and well-being. Moreover, in cases of sustainable contact between asylum seekers and volunteers increases future integration opportunities. Future research could focus on the organization of citizen initiatives and the inclusion of formal institutions like the municipality and COA or focus on locations with a larger distance between a rural area and the nearest city.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
|---|---|
| Degree programme: | Human Geography and Planning |
| Supervisor: | Haartsen, T. and Salemink, K. |
| Date Deposited: | 02 Jul 2024 13:27 |
| Last Modified: | 02 Jul 2024 13:27 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4536 |
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