Immigrant children’s perceptions of home: the case of Lithuanian children in Stavanger municipality, Norway

Abstract

It has been argued that migration research has neglected children’s migration, focusing on the movements of adults or families. However, children engage in migration in various ways and their experiences are not only valid, but often different from those of adults and therefore worthy of consideration (Young and Ansell, 2006: 3). The perceptions of home and belonging, which is the main focus of the MA thesis, again, have been researched mostly from the perspectives of adults with the central focus on migrants’ ideas and practices of recreating and maintaining home in the host country. In order to recognize children as active agents and members of migration, a research was conducted, choosing Lithuanian migrant children living in Stavanger (Norway) and its region, as a target group. Using a flexible range of techniques for data collection, a deeper look was taken at migrant children being mobile between the country of origin and the country of settlement, and examining children’s perspectives in understanding ideas and practices of home. The access to the target group was gained through Rogaland’s children’s leisure activities center where Lithuanian children from Stavanger city and the region around have a space to spend their free time as well as attend Lithuanian Sunday school.